Webster  Family  Library  of  Veterinary  Medicine  1 
Cummings  Scfiool  of  Veterinary/  iVIedicine  at    \ 

Tufts  University  ' 

200  Vl'estooro  Roac! 


3   9090   013   414   152 


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"^m''  ■ 'ili'iiiiiisi;'  ^^'^""^ 


FAEMER'S  GUIDE 


tN  THE 


MANAGEMENT 


OF 


DOMESTIC  ANIMALS, 


AND 


THE  TREATMENT  OF  THEIR  DISEASES 


Treatise  on  Horses,  Mules,  Neat  Cattle, 
Sheep,  Swine,  Poultry,  Bees,  etc. 

BY  THOMAS  B.  WILLIAMS. 
EMBELLISHED    WITH    ENGRAVINGS. 


NEW    YORK: 
PUBLISHED  BY  ENSIGN  &  THAYER,  50  ANN  ST., 

AND    12    EXCHANGE    ST.,    BUFFALO. 
CINCINNATI:    RUFUS    BLANCHARD. — BOSTON:    JOS.   WARD,    52   COBNHILL. 

1850, 


■%s»^ 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1849, 

By  ensign  &  THAYER, 

in  fhe  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  in  and  for  the 

Southern  District  of  New  York 


STEREOTYPED   BY   C.   C.   SAVAGE, 

13  Chambers  Street,  N.  Y 


PREFACE 


A  KNOWLEDGE  of  the  pi'oper  management  of  domes- 
tic animals,  and  particularly  of  the  causes,  preventives, 
symptoms,  and  treatment,  of  the  various  complaints 
they  are  subject  to,  should  be  possessed  by  every  farmer. 
Should  a  member  of  his  family  be  indisposed,  the 
medical  adviser,  expressly  educated  to  prescribe  for  "the 
ills  that  (human)  flesh  is  heir  to,"  can  be  readily  called 
in,  and  the  case  properly  treated.  But  for  his  quadru- 
pedal and  gallinaceous  tribes  —  wdth  the  exception,  per- 
haps, of  here  and  there  a  farrier — no  such  provision  ex- 
ists ;  and  the  farmer,  w^hen  an  animal  is  attacked  by  dis- 
ease, has  to  rely  upon  his  own  skill  and  resources  for 
its  treatment.  The  dictates  of  humanity,  therefore,  as 
well  as  a  proper  regard  for  the  welfare  of  his  flocks, 
render  a  knowledge  of  the  proper  course  to  be  pursued 
at  such  times  indispensable.  It  is  with  a  consciousness 
of  this  necessity,  and  in  a  measure  to  supply  the  wants 
it  indicates,  that  the  present  work  has  been  prepared. 
In  addition  to  the  experience  of  the  writer,  information 
has  been  drawn  from  the  best  authorities,  some  of  it 
from  voluminous  works  not  generally  accessible ;  and 
indeed  were  they,  few  farmers  would  have  either  the 
time  or  the  patience  to  glean  it  out. 

It  has  been  the  design  of  the  writer,  to  make  the  work 
strictly  practical  —  to  leave  speculative  reasonings  to  vol- 


10  PREFACE. 

umes  prepared  for  those  who  have  time  to  spend  in  their 
pemsal  —  in  short,  to  avoid  all  superfluous  detail,  and 
give  the  information  in  as  few  words  as  a  proper  under- 
standing of  it  would  permit.  He  has  given  no  directions 
which  will  not  be  clearly  understood,  and  which  may 
not  be  easily  followed  ;  and  among  the  prescriptions 
which  he  has  furnished  for  the  cure  or  amelioration  of 
animal  diseases,  he  beheves  none  will  be  found  which 
are  not  readily  available  by  every  farmer.  In  every 
case  the  treatment  recommended  may  be  relied  on  and 
regarded  as  neither  untried  nor  hazardous,  but  such  as 
will  generally  prove  successful. 

It  was  the  apology  of  an  eminent  writer,  for  extend- 
ing a  work  through  several  large  volumes,  that  he  "had 
not  time  to  make  it  more  brief;"  and  although,  to  those 
who  have  not  made  the  experiment,  it  may  appear  un- 
reasonable, it  may  be  safely  asserted,  that,  to  condense 
and  give  within  the  limits  of  the  present  volume,  any- 
thing like  the  amount  of  information  which,  on  exami- 
nation, it  will  be  found  to  contain,  requires  far  more 
time,  labor,  and  patience,  than  to  compile  a  work  of  sev- 
eral times  the  size. 

,  With  these  observations,  the  Farmer's  Guide  is  re- 
spectfully submitted  to  the  judgment  of  those,  for  whom 
it  has  been  especially  prepared,  in  the  confident  hope 
that  it  will  be  found  adequate  to  the  purposes  for  which 
it  is  designed. 

T.  B.  W. 
New  York,  Mut/,  1849. 


CONTENTS. 


THE  HORSE page 

To  choose  a  Horse 

Bets  and  Worms , 

A  Cold  or  Cough 

Founder 

Windgalls 

BoneSpavin 

Blood-Spavin 

Ruigbone 

Gltuiders 

Heaves,  or  Broken  Wind 

The  Stfig-gers 

The  Scratches 

The  n  rease 

Poll-Evil 

Lameness  in  the  Siifle 

Hurse-DiBtemper,  or  Catanh 

Diabetes  

Slabbers 

Sprain  of  the  Knee  or  Ankle 

Braises  and  Blows 

Swellings 

Wounds 

Spring-Halt 

Diseases  and  Hurts  of  the  Feet 

Hoof-Bound.  .^ 

Cracked  Hoofs 

Thrush,  or  Frog-Ail 

Galled  Back 

Fevers 

Scours 

Windy  Colic 

The  Dry  Gripes 

Grubs 

Bleeding 

Keeping  Horses  Clean,  Currying, 

&c 

Rearing  Colts...'. 


THE  MULE 32 

NEAT  CATTLE 34 

Rules  for  selecting  a  Good  Milch- 
Cow 34 

Marks  of  good  workingOxen 36 

To  ascertain  the  Age  of  Cattle 36 

Treatment  lor  preeernng  Cattle  in 

good  Health 36 

To  make  Tar-water  for  Cattle 38 

Physic 38 

Purdn 2  Drink 39 

Bleeding 39 

Hoven,  or  Swelling  of  the  Bowels.  39 

Poisons 40 

Choking 41 

Coughs,  Colds,  and  Hoose 41 

Quinsy 42 

Wounds 42 

Staggers. 43 


NEAT  CATTLE— PAGE 

Bloody  Murrain. 43 

Red  Water 44 

Lice 45 

Fever 45 

Inflammation  of  the  Stomach 45 

Inflammation  of  the  Bowels 46 

Inflammation  of  the  Lungs 46 

The  Frenzy,  or    Inflammation  of 

the  Brain 47 

Madness 47 

Bots  and  Worms 47 

Colic - 48 

Yellows,  or  Jaundice 48 

Dysentery,    Diairhoaa,   or    Loose- 
ness  49 

Diuretics 49 

Black  Tongue 50 

Horn-Ail,  or  Hollow  Horn 50 

Hoof-Ail 5L 

Mange,  Scrofula,  Scurf,  or  Scab..  51 

Loss  of  Cud 52 

Tail  Disease 52 

Black-Leg 52 

Over-heated  and  Over-worked. 53 

R  upture,  Breach,  or  Hernia 54 

Warts 54 

Wens 54 

Bruises  and  Sores. 55 

Stroke  of  the  Whip  in  the  Eye 55 

Chafe  in  the  Eye 55 

Film  on  the  Eye 56 

W^eak  and  inflamed  Eyes 56 

Hide-bound. 56 

Feeding  Oxen 56 

Shoeing  Oxen 56 

Sore  Necks  in  Oxen 57 

Currying  Cattle 57 

LockedJaw 57 

Stings  of  Hornets  and  Bees 57 

Bite  of  Poisonous  Snakes 57 

Ulcers 57 

Treatment  of  Cows 58 

Milking  Cows  before  Calving 59 

Management  of  Cows  at  Calving..  58 
Treatment  of  Cows  after  Calving.  58 
Treatment  of  Cows  that  will  not 

own  their  Calves 58 

Milk  Fever 59 

Sore  Teats 59 

Garget 59 

Caked  Bag 59 

Kicking  Cow 60 

Cows  holding  up  their  Milk 60 

To  prevent  a  Cow  from  sucking 

herself 60 

Cows  drying  up  suddenly 60 

Milking 6(J 


12 


CONTENTS. 


NEAT  CATTLE— page. 

Cream 61 

Churning  the  whole  Milk 61 

Cheese 61 

Rennet 61 

I) lying  up  a  Cow 62 

Treatinent  of  Calves 62 

Scours  in  Calves -. 63 

Hoose  in  Calves 63 

THE  SHEEP 63 

JIanagement  of  Sheep  duiing  the 

Spring 64 

Management  of  Sheep  in  Summer  65 
Management  of  Shoep  duiing  Au- 
tumn   65 

Management  of  Sheep  in  Winter..  65 

Feeding  Sheep  in  Winter 66 

Management  of  Sheep  at  Yeaning- 

time 67 

Management  of  Lambs 67 

Weaning 68 

Castration  of  Lambs 68 

Washing  Sheep 68 

Shearing 69 

To  prevent  Sheep  from  taking  Cold 

after  Shearing 69 

To  learn  the  Age  of  Sheep 69 

PLacks,  JNIangers,  Feeding-Trouglis.  69 

Sheep-Bams,  or  Shelters 70 

Diseases  m  Sheep 70 

Rot 70 

Foot-rot 71 

FUes  on  Sheep 71 

I  Ace  and  Ticks  on  Sheep 71 

Stageers 71 

Sturdy,  or  Water  in  the  Head 72 

Scab 73 

Scours,  or  Diarrhcsa : . . .  73 

Scours  in  Lambs 73 

Dysentery 74 

Foul  Noses 74 

Sore  Eyes 74 

Caked  Bag 74 

Hoven 75 

Costiveness 75 

Colds  and  Influenza 75 

Inflammation  of  the  Lungs 75 

Inflammation  of  the  Brain 75 

Pelt-Rot 76 

Small -Pox,  or  Cow-Pox 76 

Sore  and  swollen  Moulh 76 

Wounds  and  Cuts 76 

Fevers 76 

Docking  Sheep  and  Lambs 77 

Stretches 77 

Gad-Flies,  Worms,  or  Maggots  in 

the  Head 77 

Poison 78 

Bleeding 78 

To  prot(!Ct  Sheep  and  Lambs  from 

Dogs,  Foxes,  and  Wolves 79 

SWINE 79 

Breeding 79 

Manag(!ment  of  Pigs 80 

General  Management  of  Swine 80 


SWINE PAGE. 

Pens 80 

Fattening 80 

Diseases  of  Swine 82 

Measles 82 

Issues 82 

Quinsy 85 

Sore  Throat 83 

Colds,  Coughs,  and   Inflammation 

of  the  Brain 83 

Rupture 83 

Scours 83 

Blind  Staggers 84 

Bruises  and  Cuts 84 

Swellings 84 

Catarrh 84 

Itch,  Scab,  or  Mange 84 

Fevers £4 

Costiveness 85 

Kidney- Worm 85 

Swine-Pox 85 

Black  Teeth 85 

Murrain 85. 

Universal  Specific 86 

Physic • 86 

Bleeding.   86 

Preventing  Swine  from  rooting...  86 

POULTRY 86 

Hens 87 

Food 87 

Hen-House 88 

Breeding 88 

Diseases  of  Hens t 89 

Gapes  or  Pip 89 

Roup,  Croup,  and  Catarrh 89 

Costiveness 89 

Flux,  or  Looseness 89 

Lice 89 

Geese 89 

Turkeys 90 

Ducks 90 

Doves,  or  Pigeons 9i 

Canary  and  other  Birds 91 

THE  DOG 91 

Cold 91 

Purgative  Drink  for  Dogs 92 

Dog  Distemijer 92 

Dog-Ail 92 

Rabies,  or  Madness 92 

THE  BEE 93 

Consti-uction  of  a  Bee-hive 93 

Improved  Machine  for  feeding  ^ees  94 

To  hive  Bees 94 

To   take  the   Honey   without   de- 
stroying the  Bees 95 

To  destroy  the  Bee-Miller 05 

Preserving  old  Hives 95 

Winter  Management ,95 

. Spring  Management 96 

To  cultivate  Bee-Flowers 97 

To  manage  Bees  generally 97 

To  purify  Honey 98 

CHOICE  FRUITS 99 

Agricultural  Societies  and  Fairs 100 


THE 

EARMER'S  GUIDE. 


THE    HORSE. 


Of  all  animals  created  for  the  use  of  man,  the  horse  is 
acknowledged  to  be  the  most  serviceable,  and  is  the  most 
abused  by  the  unthinking  and  unmerciful.  It  is  tracta- 
ble, if  broken  while  young.  While  it  is  difficult  at  this 
day  to  determine  from  what  quarter  of  the  world  horses 
were  originally  brought,  it  is  most  probable  that  they 
came  from  Asia.  They  likewise,  for  ages,  have  been 
found  in  their  wild  state,  in  the  vast  plains  of  Africa,  and 
in  other  parts  of  the  world,  where  their  meat  has  been 
used  for  food  by  the  natives. 

TO    CHOOSE    A    HORSE.* 

While  it  requires  much  skill  to  select  a  horse  that  is 
good  in  every  respect,  it  is  very  difficult  to  give  such  par- 
ticular directions  as  will  always  insure  the  purchaser 
against  being  deceived.  To  those  unacquainted  with 
this  animal,  and  the  arts  and  deceptions  often  practised 
by  the  horse-dealer,  it  may  appear  unaccountable  that 
as  definite  instructions  can  not  be  given  for  the  purchase 
of  a  Jiorse  as  of  other  animals.  A  few  general  direc- 
tions are  all  the  limits  of  this  work  will  allow.  A  short 
trial  is  the  best  way  of  estimating  his  worth  ;  but  where 
this  is  not  allowed,  the  following  suggestions  are  submit- 
ted, and,  if  followed,  will  be  as  sure  a  safeguard  as  it  is 
possible  to  have. 

The  ej/es  should  first  be  examined  as  closely  as  possi- 
ble, as  dealers  of  long  experience  are  often  deceived  in 
them.  Clearness  of  the  eyes  is  a  pretty  sure  evidence  of 
their  goodness.  It  is  a  bad  sign  when  they  appear  life- 
less or  unusually  flat.     Again,  it  is  a  sure  indication  of 


14 

imperfect  sight,  when  he  is  brought  out  of  a  dark  stable, 
for  him  to  wrinkle  his  brow  often,  and  look  up,  appa- 
rently endeavoring  to  see  plainer. 

The  teeth,  in  the  next  place,  will  require  particular 
examination.  A  horse  has  six  teeth  above  and  six  below  in 
the  foremouth,  which  are  denominated  the  cutting  teeth. 
At  about  two  and  a  half  years  old  it  changes  two  on  the 
top  and  two  on  the  bottom,  which  are  called  the  nippers  ; 
at  three  and  a  half  it  changes  two  others ;  at  four  and  a 
half  years  it  changes  the  nook  teeth  ;  at  five  years  old  it 
has  a  full  mouth,  when  the  tusks  appear.  At  six  years 
old,  the  nook  teeth  are  a  little  hollow ;  at  seven  years 
there  is  a  black  mark  like  the  end  of  a  ripe  bean ;  after 
seven  years  it  is  difficult  to  ascertain  the  exact  age  of  the 
animal,  but  as  years  increase,  the  flesh  will  be  observed 
to  shrink  from  the  teeth,  which  grow  long  and  yellow. 

The  yee^  should  next  be  examined.  They  should  be 
smooth  and  tough,  of  a  middle  size,  without  wrinkles. 
The  heels  should  be  firm,  and  not  spongy,  \}i\Q  frogs  horny 
and  dry,  and  the  soles  somewhat  hollow,  like  the  inside 
of  a  dish  or  bowl. 

Particular  regard  should  be  had  to  the  limhs,  to  see 
that  they  are  free  from  splents*  and  windgalls  ;t  the 
knees  should  be  straight,  and  not  bending,  or  what  is 
called  a  calf's  knee  ;  the  hack  sineios  strong,  well  braced, 
and  fiee  from  swellings  of  all  kinds ;  and  the  hocks  lean, 
and  free  from  spavins  and  all  tumors.  The  body  should 
be  about  the  medium  size,  the  hack  straight,  or  have  only 
a  moderate  sinking  below  the  withers.  When  the  back 
of  a  horse  is  low,  or  higher  behind  than  before,  it  is  very 
unsightly,  and  a  sign  of  weakness.  The  rihs  should  be 
large  ;  the  flanks  full ;  a  horse  with  a  short  hind  quarter 
does  not  look  well. 

It  is  very  important  that  the  wind  of  the  horse  should 
be  regarded ;  this  can  easily  be  ascertained  by  the  mo- 
tion of  his  flanks,  after  driving  him  fast  for  a  few  rods 
soon  after  he  drinks  in  the  morning.  A  broken-winded 
horse  always  pinches  in  his  flanks,  with  a  very  slow  mo- 

*  There  are  several  kinds  of  s/»  ints,  viz.,  the  bone-splent,  the  blood" 
Bplent,  and  the  born  splent. 
t  Windgalls  are  soft  tumors  seated  on  either  side  of  the  fetlock  joint. 


THE    HORSE.  15 

tion,  and  drops  them  suddenly;  yet  horses  whose  wind 
is  perfectly  good,  may  breathe  thick,  in  foggy  weather, 
or  if  foul  fed  and  without  sufficient  exercise. 

There  are  other  particulars  that  should  be  observed  in 
choosing  a  horse.  If  his  head  be  large,  and  his  neck 
fleshy,  he  will  go  heavy.  It  is  well  to  ascertain  the 
temper  of  a  horse.  If  it  is  good  it  gi'eatly  adds  to  his 
value ;  but  if  bad,  it  is  always  unsafe  to  use  him :  this 
can  be  easily  ascertained  by  a  short  trial. 

These  few  instructions  may  be  of  great  use  in  pur- 
chasing horses  ;  but  it  requires  experien  je  before  trust- 
ing to  one's  own  judgment,  for  probably  in  no  business 
are  the  arts  of  deception  carried  farther  than  by  the 
horse-dealer;  and  the  best  judges  are  often  much  de- 
ceived. 

We  come  nov/  to  treat  of  the  diseases  of  this  noble 
animal,  with  their  symptoms  and  treatment. 

BOTTS    AND    NATORMS. 

INIuch  has  been  said  respecting  worms  in  horses,  with 
but  little  knowledge.  Many  horses  are  kept  weak,  and 
low  in  flesh,  and  are  killed  by  them.  Horses  that  are 
well  kept  are  not  so  subject  to  worms  as  those  that  are 
haid  worked  and  badly  fed.  There  are  different  species 
of  worms,  but  the  worst  kind  is  the  long  round  worm, 
resembling  the  common  earth-worm,  of  from  five  to  eight 
inches  in  length.  They  are  very  hard,  and  inhabit  the 
small  intestines. 

Symptoms. — The  symptoms  are  various,  as  the  animals 
are  constitutionally  different,  and  the  difficulty  seated  in 
different  parts  of  the  body.  When  the  botts  are  in  the 
rectum,  they  are  not  dangerous,  but  are  often  thrust  out 
with  the  dung.  They  sometimes  breed  in  the  stomach, 
and  often  cause  convulsions  and  death.  Violent  agonies 
of  the  creature  are  an  indication  of  their  existence  in 
that  part  of  the  body.  The  eye,  also,  is  dull  and  glazed. 
They  are  often  attended  with  a  voracious  appetite,  which 
continues  to  the  last. 

Cure. — A  strong  dose  of  physic,  or  an  injection  of  lin- 
seed oil,  will  sometimes  effect  a  cure.  If  physic  is  pre- 
ferred, take  1  oz.  aloes,  1  dram  of  calomel  (8  drams  to 


16  THE  farmer's  guide. 

the  oz.),  1  dram  oil  of  aniseseed,  2  drams  of  powdered 
ginger ;  beat  all  up  together  in  a  mortar,  till  the  aloes 
are  well  broken,,  and  the  whole  is  brought  to  a  paste — 
which  roll  into  a  ball,  and  give,  fasting  for  one  hour  after  ; 
also  give  a  small  quantity  of  warm  water,  gently  walking 
the  horse  until  it  operates.  It  will  be  well  to  see  that 
the  horse  is  open  in  body  before  giving  this  ball ;  the  an- 
imal should  also  rest  for  twenty-four  hours.  If  the  horse 
is  of  small  size,  the  close  must  not  be  quite  as  large  as 
above  specified.  If  this  should  not  effect  a  cure,  the 
dose  must  not  be  repeated  short  of  one  week.  There  is 
another  kind  of  worm,  small,  round,  and  hard,  that  re^ 
quii-es  different  treatment,  to  desti-oy  which  give  the  fol- 
lowing :  1  dram  of  calomel,  6  do.  of  jalap,  6  do.  of  rhu- 
barb in  powder,  wrought  into  a  paste  and  given  as  above. 
A  small  quantity  of  rosin,  dried  and  powdered,  may  be 
given  before  the  worm-physic  is  taken.  One  ounce  per 
day  will  be  of  much  benefit. 

Botanical  Cure  for  Botts  in  the  Stomach. — Take  8  oz. 
of  dried  sage,  boil  it  thoroughly  in  as  small  a  quantity  of 
water  as  will  answer  to  get  its  strength  ;  strain  it  well  ; 
add  1  pt.  of  sweet  milk,  and  1  pt.  of  molasses ;  give  it  to 
the  animal;  and  when  it  enters  the  stomach  the  botts 
will  relinquish  their  hold  and  fill  themselves  with  the 
sweet  milk,  and  the  horse  will  immediately  be  relieved, 
when  a  thorough  potion  of  purgative  medicine  should 
be  given  to  carry  off  the  botts,  and  the  animal  will 
speedily  recover.  This  is  considered  by  many  who  have 
tried  it,  to  be  the  most  safe  and  effectual  remedy  for  the 
botts. 

Remarks. — It  requires  much  judgment  to  distinguish 
between  the  botts  and  the  colic,  and  similar  complaints. 
Horses  are  frequently  killed  by  administering  powerful 
medicines,  when  a  simple  purgative  would  have  removed 
the  complaint.  Probably  for  no  other  malady  are  there 
as  many  remedies  prescribed  as  for  this,  among  which 
are  the  following:  Entrails  of  fowls,  grease,  oil,  ashes, 
rye-heads,  fresh  meat,  blood,  tobacco,  one  spoonful  of 
slaked  lime,  castile  soap,  molasses,  vinegar,  soot,  new 
milk,  honey,  train-oil,  laudanum,  gin,  &c.  Caie  should 
be  taken  in  administerinsr  the  above  articles,  as  some  of 


THE    HORSE.  ^  17 

them  are  very  povverful.  Many  times  when  a  horse  is 
taken  with  either  colic  or  hotts,  it  is  found  to  be  very 
difficult  to  get  an  operation  of  tlie  medicine  given,  on  ac- 
count of  the  intestines  being  completely  bound  up. 
Chalk  and  vinegar  are  sometimes  used  as  a  last  remedy, 
when  purgative  medicines  and  injections  have  failed  to 
operate.  When  this  medicine  is  administered,  it  is  sure 
to  force  a  passage  in  a  few  minutes  or  kill  the  animal. 

Directions. — Take  -^  lb.  of  pulverized  chalk,  and  1  pt. 
of  strong  vinegar;  put  them  into  a  long-necked  bottle 
together,  when  a  pov/erful  fermentation  will  take  place; 
put  the  forefinger  over  the  mouth  of  the  bottle,  and 
shake  it  well ;  then  place  the  neck  of  the  bottle  in  the 
throat  of  the  animal,  while  his  head  is  extended  ;  take 
off  the  finger,  and  the  contents  of  the  bottle  will  immedi- 
ately force  its  way  down  the  throat. 

A   COLD    OR   COUGH. 

A  cold  is  of  such  common  occurrence,  that  little  atten- 
tion is  generally  paid  to  it ;  yet  long  experience  has 
proved  that  a  cold  is  felie  foundation  o^  most  of  the  dis- 
eases incident  to  horses.  A  cold  is  the  result  of  driving 
the  horse  till  he  is  hot,  and  then  allowing  him  to  stand 
exposed  to  the  cold,  or  neglecting  to  rub  him  down  after 
a  hard  day's  work.  When  a  horse  has  caught  cold,  a 
cough  will  follow ;  his  eyes  will  be  watery,  the  kernels 
about  his  ears  and  under  his  jaws  will  swell,  and  a 
slight  running  at  the  nose  will  be  apparent.  Occasion- 
ally the  horse  will  be  feverish,  and  refuse  his  food.  If 
the  cough  is  very  violent,  a  slight  bleeding  will  generally 
relieve  him.  Should  this  not  effect  a  cure,  and  he  refuse 
his  food  and  appear  feverish,  give  him  the  following 
drink:  2  oz.  juice  of  liquorice,  2  oz.  salt  of  tartar,  2 
drams  of  saffron,  2  oz.  lioney;  dissolve  the  whole  to- 
gether, in  hot  water,  and  give  it  nearly  cold.  This  drink 
can  be  given  as  occasion  requires,  but  let  twenty-four 
hours  first  elapse.  Or  give,  if  more  convenient,  4  oz. 
aniseseed,  2  oz.  liquorice  root,  1  oz.  gum  scammony,  1 
oz.  nitre  ;  boil  these  together  in  three  jiints  of  water,  for 
fifteen  minutes,  strain  the  liquor,  add  2  oz.  honey,  and 
give  blood  warm.     If  the  cough  has  been  of  long  stand- 

2 


18 

ing,  with  loss  of  appetite,  weakness,  and  jvasting  of  fleshy 
it  will  be  necessary  to  take  a  moderate  quantity  of  blood. 
The  next  day  give  six  quarts  of  scalded  bran,  and  at 
night 'the  following:  1  oz.  powdered  aniseseed,  1  oz. 
liquorice,  1  dram  calomel ;  work  them  into  a  ball  with 
stale  bread.  The  horse  should  not  be  worked  for  two 
days,  and  should  be  kept  from  drinking  very  cold  water. 
It  is  well,  at  the  end  of  two  days,  to  give  the  following 
dose  :  -J  oz.  powdered  ginger,  1  oz,  aloes,  1  oz.  castile 
soap  ;  put  them  into  a  mortar,  and  make  them  into  a  ball 
with  wheat  or  rye  bran.  One  hour  after  giving  the 
above,  give  3  quarts  of  warm  water,  and  walk  him  mod- 
erately for  an  hour  or  two. 

Other  Remedies. — Give  J  lb.  Epsom  salts,  and  on  the 
following  day  take  the  small  boughs  of  the  cedar,  cut 
fine  and  mixed  with  meal  or  wet  oats.  Or,  take  2  oz. 
sulphur,  mix  with  human  urine,  and  give  with  his  food. 
Or,  take  a  handful  of  arsesmart,  chopped  fine,  with  hay 
or  grain.  Or,  boil  1  qt.  flaxseed  half  and  hour,  and  ^-^ve 
with  meal  mixed  with  bran. 

FOUNDER 

Is  an  inflammation  of  the  foot,  and  is  occasioned  by 
over  exertion,  great  heat  (especially  when  followfcd  by 
drinking  freely  of  cold  water),  or  overloading  the  stom- 
ach with  heavy  grain.  Horses  are  oftener  hurt  in  ihe 
feet  than  anywhere  else.  The  utmost  care  should  be 
taken,  while  travelling,  to  let  them  drink  but  little  at  a 
time,  and  never  to  feed  with  unripe  grain  (especially 
corn).  When  a  horse  is  foundered,  he  will  show  it  by 
great  pain  and  fever  in  the  feet,  and  extreme  lameness 
If  the  attack  is  very  severe,  it  will  be  necessary  at  once 
lo  bleed  freely  from  the  foot,  remove  the  shoes,  and  pare 
the  hoofs ;  after  which,  place  the  feet  in  warm  water,  or 
apply  flannel  wet  in  warm  water,  for  one  hour;  then  ap- 
ply poultices  for  tv/o  or  three  hours.  He  ought  not  to  be 
worked  for  three  days.  If  the  attack  is  slight,  moderate 
bleeding  will  relieve  him.  After  a  horse  has  once  been 
foundered  he  is  more  liable  to  be  injured  again  in  the 
same  manner. 


THB    HORSE.  ID 

NA^INDGALLS. 

Windgalls  are  generally  found  on  the  hind  legs,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  tlie  fetlock,  and  are  generally  occa-' 
eioned  by  violent  action  and  straining  of  the  tendons. 
They  not  only  injure  the  appearance  of  the  horse,  but 
often  produce  lameness.  A  very  small  windgall  may 
not  injure  a  horse  for  a  great  length  of  time,  and  may  be 
I'emoved  by  placing  a  tight  bandage  upon  it ;  but  if  the  sac 
is  large,  bathe  it  with  warm  vinegar  and  spirits  of  wine, 
putting  a  tight  bandage  round  it.  If  this  should  fail  of 
a  cure,  lay  on  blistering  ointment  until  it  is  removed. 
BONE-SPAVIN. 

The  bone-spavin  is  a  long  excrescence  or  hard  swel- 
ling on  the  inside  of  the  hock  in  a  horse's  leg,  and  it  is 
produced  by  either  kicks  or  blows,  and  sometimes  by 
natural  causes.  Spavins  by  the  former  are  more  easily 
cured  than  by  the  latter,  and  are  also  more  easily  cured  in 
young  than  in  old  horses.  Sometimes  severe  lameness  is 
produced  when  the  spavin  is  first  coming  out,  after  which 
it  is  better  for  a  while,  and  is  succeeded  again  by  severe 
lameness. 

Treatment. — When  the  spavin  first  appears,  apply  a 
blister  every  ten  days,  which  will  often  effect  a  cure  in  a 
young  horse.  If  the  horse  is  old,  the  blisters  should  be 
applied  oftener.  A  hot  iron  is  sometimes  applied  with 
success,  but  must  be  used  with  great  caution. 
BLOOD-SPAVIN. 

Blood-spavins  are  generally  brought  on  by  hard  labor, 
when  the  horse  is  young,  and  sometimes  when  he  is  full- 
grown.  This  spavin  consists  in  a  dilation  of  the  vein  that 
runs  along  the  inside  of  the  hock,  and  forms  a  soft  swel- 
ling in  the  hollow  part,  which  in  time  renders  the  horse 
lame.  On  discovering  the  enlargement  of  the  vein,  or  a 
bag  forming,  lay  on  some  blistering  ointment,  and  in 
three  days  after,  bathe  the  part  affected  with  hot  vinegar, 
adding  a  little  saltpetre  with  it;  and  also  apply  a  ban 
dage  to  keep  down  the  swelling. 

RINGBONE. 

This  is  too  well  known  to  need  a  particular  desciip- 
tion  here.     It  may  be  well,  however,  to  remark,  that  it 


20  THE    FARMER  S    GUIDE.     . 

is  a  deposite  of  hard  bony  matter  in  one  of  the  pasterns, 
between  the  fetlock  and  the  foot;  but  if  the  pastern  be 
long,  it  is  generally  near  the  foot.  A  ringbone  is  diffi- 
cult to  cure ;  and  the  only  successful  treatment  is  by  ac- 
tive blistering  in  its  first  stages,  or  by  making  a  few  holes 
just  through  the  skin,  and  rubbing  well  with  some  pene- 
trating mild  oil,  followed  by  blistering.  As  a  last  resort, 
apply  the  cautery. 

GLANDERS. 

This  is  one  of  the  few  disorder-,  to  which  the  horse  is 
subject  that,  unless  taken  in  its  first  stages,  baffles  the 
skill  of  the  most  celebrated  doctors.  People  often  mis- 
take other  disorders  for  the  glanders.  The  disease  is 
sometimes  communicated  by  contagion,  sometimes  it  is 
the  result  of  hereditary  transmission,  and  frequently  pro- 
duced by  great  fatigue  and  exhaustion. 

Symptoms. — The  matter  discharged  from  the  nostrils 
of  a  glandered  horse,  is  either  whitish,  yellow,  greenish, 
or  tinged  with  blood.  When  the  disease  has  been  of 
lonof  standino:,  and  the  bones  are  affected,  the  matter  be- 
comes  black,  and  is  very  off'ensive.  The  glanders  are 
always  attended  with  a  swelling  of  the  kernels  or  glands 
under  the  jaws  ;  but  in  every  other  respect  the  horse  is 
healthy  and  sound,  till  the  disorder  has  continued  a  long 
time.  If  the  glands  under  the  jaw  do  not  continue  to 
swell,  and  the  disorder  be  recently  contracted,  a  cure 
can  be  often  effected  by  applying  the  following  :  1  oz.  of 
rochealum,  1  oz.  white  vitriol;  powder  them  well,  put 
them  in  a  pint  of  warm  vinegar,  and  syringe  about  an 
ounce  up  his  nostrils  every  day. 

HEAVES,  OR    BROKEN    V^IND. 

The  heaves  may  usually  be' avoided,  but  after  this  dis- 
ease is  once  seated  it  can  not  be  cured.  All  that  can  be 
done,  therefore,  is  to  give  rules  for  prevention,  and  sorhe 
remedies  that  will  afford  relief  when  it  is  seated,  and 
render  the  horse  capable  of  performing  tolerable  good 
service,  notwithstanding  his  misfiutune.  The  first  symp- 
tom of  a  broken  wind  is  a  dry  cough,  with  an  increased 
appetite,  and  a  disposition  to  drink  large  quantities  of 
water.     Sometimes  the  disorder  is  induced  by  a  sudden 


THE    HORSE.  21 

transiilon  from  heat  to  cold,  or  being  coiifinecl  in  damp, 
cold  stables,  after  severe  working.  When  a  horse  is 
troubled  with  an  obstinate  dry  cough,  it  will  greatly  re- 
lieve him  to  bleed  him  moderately  ;  after  which  give  him 
two  or  three  doses  of  physic.  Prepare  the  following : 
4  oz.  gum  ammoniac,  4  oz.  asafcetida,  4  oz.  squills,  -i  oz. 
saffron,  6  drams  of  cinnabar  of  antimony;  make  the 
whole  up  into  balls  about  the  size  of  a  large  walnut, 
adding  a  little  honey  and  liquorice,  and  give  oTie  every 
other  morning.  Another:  take  1  oz.  ginger,  2  table- 
spoonfuls  of  tar,  and  the  yolk  of  an  egg,  and  give  every 
morning — letting  the  animal  drink  weak  lime-water  three 
times  a  day.  The  diet  should  also  be  carefully  at- 
tended to.  It  will  greatly  relieve  a  horse,  troubled  with 
this  complaint,  to  feed  him  with  roots,  and  wet  the  hay 
as  well  as  the  grain  on  which  he  is  fed.  He  should  have 
moderate  exercise,  but  none  that  is  violent ;  and  v/ith 
dry  and  clean  stables  he  will  last  for  years. 

THE    STAGGERS. 

This  is  a  dano^erous  disease,  and  should  receive  atten- 
tion  at  once.  It  is  caused  by  the  liver  making  blood  so 
fast  that  the  cavity  of  the  heart  is  overloaded,  and  the 
blood  flies  ujd  the  neck  vein  till  the  head  is  likewise  over- 
loaded ;  and  unless  relief  be  obtained  the  horse  soon  dies. 

Symptoms. — The  most  common  are  drowsiness,  in- 
flamed eyes,  a  disposition  to  reel,  feebleness,  loss  of 
appetite,  and  the  head  hanging  down  or  resting  on  the 
manger.  The  horse  soon  reels,  and  falls  down,  and 
sometimes  bites  everything  that  comes  in  his  way. 

Cure. — In  the  first  place  bleed  him,  by  striking  the 
vein  in  several  places  at  once,  and  taking  away  four  or 
five  quarts  of  blood,  according  to  the  size  of  the  animal. 
Let  his  head  and  shouldersf  be  raised  by  putting  a  quan- 
tity of  straw  under  them.  If  he  survive  the  first  fit,  cut 
several  rowels,  and  give  him  clysters  twice  a  day,  made 
of  barley-water,  adding  a  little  sweet-oil  and  salt ;  and 
blow  up  his  nostrils  a  small  quantity  of  cayenne  pepper 
or  white  hellebore  ;  also  give  him,  in  one  quart  of  warm 
water,  \  oz.  camphor,  16  grains  turbith  mineral  or  -J  an 
oz,  ginger,  4  grs.  Peruvian  bark.  If  he  appears  to  be 
2* 


JS2  THE  farmer's  guide. 

in  severe  pain,  give  him,  in  a  little  warm  water,  1  oz, 
opium,  1  gill  syrup  of  poppies,  1  oz.  tincture  guaiacum. 
Care  should  be  taken  that  he  does  not  knock  his  head 
against  anything,  as  that  would  aggravate  the  disorder. 
He  will  need  a  small  dose  of  physic  once  a  fortnight  for 
two  months. 

THE    SCRATCHES. 

This  disease  is  often  very  troublesome  to  the  horse, 
and,  unless  speedily  cured,  often  renders  him  lame  and 
unfit  for  use.  Sometimes  in  slight  attacks  of  it,  after 
properly  cleansing  the  parts  with  weak  soap-suds,  a  little 
flour  of  sulphur  and  spirits  of  wine  or  vinegar,  made  into 
an  ointment  and  applied  to  the  cracks,  will  effect  a  cure. 
Another:  take  1  lb.  hog's-lard,  4  oz.  white-lead,  2  oz. 
powdered  alum,  1  oz.  white  vitriol,  i  oz.  sugar  of  lead, 
3  oz.  olive  oil  ;  pulverize  all  but  the  lard,  in  a  mortar  or 
on  a  stone  slab  ;  then  add  the  lard,  and  work  the  whole 
together  until  united.  A  small  quantity  must  be  put  on 
the  part  afflicted,  night  and  morning.  In  case  of  wounds 
or  injuries  from  shoe-corks,  it  will  be  best  to  spread  the 
ointment  on  bats  of  tow,  and  secure  them  with  bandages. 
This  is  a  neat  and  very  convenient  composition,  that 
ought  to  be  kept  on  hand  through  the  winter.  If  this 
disease  is  not  soon  checked,  it  will  run  into  another 
called  the  grease,  which  requires  more  particular  atten- 
tion. 

THE  GREASE. 

This  disorder  is  generally  brought  on  by  soft  corns, 
want  of  proper  cleaning,  bad  stable-management,  hard, 
usage,  or  an  impure  state  of  the  blood.  A  table-spoon- 
ful of  nitre  and  sulphur,  in  equal  parts,  given  each  day 
with  his  food,  is  calculated  to  prevent  the  grease  and 
refine  the  blood. 

Treatment. — When  you  first  discover  the  horse's  legs 
to  swell  after  standing  several  hours,  be  careful  to  wash 
them  clean  with  vinegar  and  water  or  soap-suds,  every 
time  he  comes  in,  which  may  prevent  or  cure  the  com- 
plaint. If  this  should  fail,  some  simple  cooling  ointment 
can  be  applied.  If  the  disease  is  not  soon  removed,  and 
cracks  make  their  appearance,  a  common  poultice^  with 


THE    HORSE.  23 

a  few  carrots  well  boiled  and  mashed,  should  be  applied, 
which  will  generally  effect  a  cure  ;  yet,  after  a  few  days, 
when  the  cracks  have  healed,  a  thick  flannel  cloth  should 
be  bound  round  the  affected  part,  and  remain  for  four  or 
five  days.  It  will  greatly  assist  the  full  recovery  of  the 
animal  if,  while  under  treatment,  he  be  kept  on  green 
food,  and  little  or  no  grain  be  allowed  him.  If  he  be 
able,  he  ought  daily  to  be  moderately  exercised. 

POLL-EVIL. 

This  disorder  results  from  some  contusion  or  injury 
about  the  head,  which  produces  a  swelling,  that  eventu- 
ally breaks.  "When  it  first  makes  its  appearance,  blis- 
tering will  greatly  abate  the  inflammation,  and  may  scat- 
ter it;  but  if  this  should  fail,  cold  lotions,  a  moderate 
dose  of  physic,  and  bleeding,  will  usually  effect  the  ob- 
ject. If  the  swelling  still  continue,  it  can  be  brought 
to  a  state  fit  for  opening  by  warm  poultices.  After  open- 
ing, it  is  important  that  the  wound  should  be  thoroughly 
cleansed  before  it  is  permitted  to  heal. 

LAMENESS    IN    THE   STIFLE. 

The  stifle  is  a  very  tender  part  of  the  horse,  and  very 
subject  to  injury  ;  but  it  can  generally  be  cured  if  taken 
in  season.  A  horse  that  is  lame  in  the  stifle  generally 
treads  on  his  toe,  and  can  not  set  his  heel  to  the  ground 
without  great  pain. 

Remedy. — For  merely  a  strain  in  the  stifle,  take  vine- 
gar and  a  small  quantity  of  oil  of  spikenard  and  worm- 
wood, and  bathe  while  warm,  holding  a  hot  shovel  near 
the  affected  part ;  this  will  soon  contract  the  ligaments 
and  effect  a  cure.  But  should  the  stifle  be  out  of  place, 
it  will  be  necessary  to  bring  it  to  its  usual  position  by 
tying  a  rope  round  the  foot,  and  drawing  it  back  for  two 
or  three  minutes,  as  much  as  the  strength  of  one  man 
will  allow.  This  operation  sometimes  needs  repeating 
two  or  three  mornings  in  succession.  It  may  be  neces- 
sary to  apply  a  stifle-shoe  to  the  foot  of  the  well  leg,  to 
cause  the  animal  to  stand  on  the  lame  foot  for  two  or 
three  days.  After  the  above  treatment,  take  white-oak 
bark,  and  the  bark  of  the  sumac,  in  equal  quantities,  and 
a  small  quantity  of  tobacco  ;  boil  them  for  one  hour  in 


24  THE  farmee's  guide. 

water,  afterward  adding  a  teaspoonful  of  cayenne  pep- 
per, and  bathe  the  affected  part  as  before.  The  heast 
should  not  he  used  until  'perfectly  ivell,  as  he  will  he  suhject 
to  the  same  accident  till  thoroughly  cured. 

HORSE-DISTEMPER,  OR  CATARRH. 
This  distemper  usually  attacks  horses  in  the  spring 
and  fall.  It  first  shows  itself  by  discharges  from  the^ 
nose,  a  cough,  difficulty  of  swallowing,  soreness  and  swel- 
ling in  the  glands  of  the  throat,  and  general  debility.  If 
it  is  attended  to  immediately,  there  is  little  danger  ;  oth- 
erwise it  often  proves  fatal.  If  the  attack  is  not  violent, 
thorough  purging  with  bran-mashes  may  relieve  him  ; 
but  if  the  disease  is  very  severe,  bleeding,  and  afterward 
blistering,  must  be  resorted  to.  The  horse  must  be  kept 
warm  ;  and  if  the  swelling  does  not  subside,  a  mild  poul- 
tice may  be  apj^lied. 

DIABETES. 

Thiis  disease  is  very  debilitating,  and  should  be  at- 
tended to  as  soon  as  discovered.  The  horse  urinates  in 
immense  quantities,  which  is  very  little  discolored  ;  his 
thirst  is  very  great;  severe  debility  follows  ;  and  his  ap- 
petite fails.  This  complaint  is  produced  by  either  over- 
exertion, musty  hay  or  grain,  want  of  green  fresh  food, 
or  an  impure  state  of  the  blood  arising  from  previous 
disorders. 

Hemedy. — Keep  him  in  a  warm  stable ;  give  him  solid 
food,  adding  two  ounces  each  of  powdered  chalk  and 
salt  every  day;  with  a  few  turnips  and  carrots  twice  a 
day;  and,  generally,  he  will -recover  in  a  short  time. 
Should  this,  however,  fail,  it  will  be  necessary  to  physic 
moderately.  If  the  disorder  does  not  yield  to  this  treat- 
ment, give  the  following  every  morning :  1  dram  opium, 
\  oz.  linseed  oil  (or  \  pt.  flaxseed) ;  make  into  a  ball,  with 
sugar  or  molasses  :  and  if  the  horse  be  costive,  give  a 
gentle  dose  of  physic. 

SLABBERS. 

It  is  supposed  that  those  weeds  and  plants  that  cause 
saliva  are  lobelia  and  spurge. 

Sym'ptoms. — A  continual  discharge  of  saliva  from  the 
mouth,  which  gradually  produces  languor  and  weakness. 


THE    HORSE.  25 

Kemedij. — Keep  the  horse  on  dry  gram  and  clean  hay; 
and,  if  convenient,  add  a  few  turnip-tops,  cabbage-leaves, 
or  radishes,  which  will  produce  immediate  relief.  Give 
freely  of  salt,  adding  a  little  sulphur  once  a  week. 

SPRAIN    OF  XHE   KNEE   OR    ANKLE. 

A  horse  that  trots  high  is  liable  to  sprain,  or  it  may  be 
produced  by  a  kick  from  another  horse,  or  by  other  ac- 
cidents. The  joint  swells,  and  become  inflamed.  This 
is  difficult  to  remove. 

Kemedy. — Take  6  oz.  tar,  6  oz.  spirits  of  wine  or  vin- 
egar, 4  oz.  lard ;  melt  these  together  by  a  slow  heat  (be- 
ing careful  not  to  have  them  take  fire),  add  flaxseed,  to 
make  it  into  a  poultice,  and  a^Dply  it  until  the  swelling  is 
removed. 

BRUISES   AND    BLO\A/S. 

These  are  produced  by  accidents  of  various  kinds. 

Re77iedy. — If  the  bruise  be  not  very  severe,  apply  salt 
and  water  with  wet  cloths,  for  some  time  ;  or,  if  it  be  at 
hand,  beef-brine  is  much  more  desirable  and  efficacious. 
A  decoction  of  tansy  and  wormwood  is  likewise  bene- 
ficial. 

SNA^ELLINGS. 

It  is  difficult  to  give  any  specific  remedies  for  swel- 
lings, as  they  are  the  results  of  such  various  causes;  but 
the  following  mixture  has  been  used  with  great  suc- 
cess :  When  a  swelling  first  appears,  bathe  it  well  with 
vinegar  having  1  ounce  of  saltpetre  dissolved  in  it,  after 
which  take  2  oz.  extract  of  lead,  2  oz.  spirits  of  wine  or 
vinegar,  2  oz.  spirits  of  sal.  ammoniac,  5  oz.  vinegar,  and 
■^  pt.  of  water  ;  mix,  and  rub  the  parts  well.  If  matter 
should  collect  (which  can  be  ascertained  by  the  touch), 
make  an  incision  large  enough  to  let  it  discharge  freely, 
and  apply  some  healing  salve,  and  dress  often. 

WOUNDS. 

If  the  wound  be  small,  the  sides  ought  to  be  brought 
together  by  adhesive  plaster,  if  possible ;  if  the  wound 
be  large,  it  should  be  immediately  sewed  up  with  a 
square-pointed  needle  and  a  waxed  thread.  Great  care 
should  be  taken  to  put  the  needle  in  straight,  one  side 


2^ 

over  against  tlie  other ;  draw  the  skin  tight,  and  tie  a 
knot;  let  the  stitches  be  an  inch  or  an  inch  and  a  half 
apart.  No  stitch  should  be  taken  near  a  joint,  if  it  can 
be  avoided,  and  all  stitches  ought  to  be  taken  out  as  soon 
as  it  will  answer — at  least  in  two  days,  unless  the  wound 
be  very  large.  Stimulating  or  healing  plasters  ought 
never  to  be  applied  to  wounds ;  but  it  is  well  to  exclude 
the  air  as  much  as  possible,  which  can  be  done  by  taking 
3  oz.  of  beeswax  and  6  oz.  of  lard,  melted  and  applied, 
changing  it  daily.  If  a  copious  discharge  takes  place, 
apply  powdered  rhubarb  every  night.  If  proud  flesh 
arise  in  the  wound,  when  it  is  partially  healed,  take  1 
dram  red  precipitate  and  3  oz.  lard,  mix  them  ivell,  and 
lay  them  on  the  proud  flesh.  This  ointment  may  be  used 
sporingly  when  proud  flesh  does  not  appear.  Should  the 
proud  flesh  not  disappear  in  two  days  after  using  the 
above  mixture,  lay  on  a  small  quantity  of  blue  vitiiol, 
powdered,  or  apply  a  little  oil  of  vitriol;  should  these  all 
fail,  as  a  last  resort  use  a  very  little  corrosive  sublimate. 
It  will  greatly  assist  wounds  to  heal  to  wash  them  three 
times  a  day  with  weak  soap-suds  about  blood  warm. 

To  stop  Bleeding. — Scrape  the  inner  part  of  sole- 
leather  very  fine,  and  bind  it  close  on  the  wound.  Puff*- 
ball  or  powdered  ch.arcoal  is  very  serviceable.  Cold 
water,  also,  is  often  used  with  great  success. 

Another  Remedy. — When  a  wound  is  not  sufficiently 
large  to  require  sewing  up,  take  4  oz.  blue  vitriol,  pow- 
dered, 2  oz.  wheat  flour,  ^  oz.  vinegar,  \  oz.  oil  vitriol, 
and  a  handful  of  fresh  nettles,  well  bruised ;  make  the 
whole  into  a  paste.  Let  the  wound  be  filled  up  with 
the  paste,  and  let  a  bat  of  tow  be  bound  strongly  over 
it,  which  is  not  to  be  removed  under  twelve  hours. 

SPRINQ-HALX. 

This  lameness  is  confined  to  the  hind  legs,  and  shows 
itself  by  a  sudden  jerking  of  the  legs  upward  when  trav- 
elling. Occasionally  both  legs  are  affected  in  the  same 
manner.  Sometimes  relief  has  been  obtained  by  strong 
fermentations,  applied,  while  hot,  with  woollen  cloth. 
No  certain  cure  has  as  yet  been  found,  but,  with  careful 
usage,  a  horse  may  perform  well  for  years. 


THE    HORSE.  27 

DISEASES  AND   HURTS  OF  THE   FEET. 

Horses  are  oftener  injured  in  the  feet  than  anywhere 
else.  Hurts  are  often  received  from  the  blacksmith  ; 
sometimes  a  nail  with  a  flaw  in  it  will  cause  a  great  in- 
jury. Again  ;  occasionally  a  nail,  from  not  being  prop 
erly  pointed,  goes  into  the  tender  part  of  the  hoof,  which 
(although  it  may  be  withdrawn  at  the  time)  may  occasion 
a  lameness,  the  cause  of  which  it  is  difficult  to  ascertain, 
as  the  blacksmith  will  not  always  own  his  fault.  Some- 
times lameness  is  occasioned  by  the  hoofs  being  pared 
'Into  the  quick.  No  old  stumps  or  pieces  ought  to  be  left 
in  the  hoof.  Care  should  be  taken  to  pare  off  the  fore- 
part  of  the  hoof  instead  of  the  heel,  when  shoeing  ;  from  a 
want  of  attention  to  this,  tenderness  of  the  foot  and  gravel 
often  result.  When  the  horse  shows  tenderness  in  his 
feet,  examine  carefully  the  cause  ;  if  it  be  the  gravel,  the 
hoof  will  need  searching,  and  every  particle  of  sand  or 
gravel  removed,  or  it  will  continue  to  operate  until  it 
may  take  months  to  cure  him.  After  removing  every 
gravelly  substance,  take  common  tar,  adding  a  little  lard, 
and  apply  it  to  the  part  affected,  so  as  to  preserve  the 
place  from  further  injury.  Sometimes  corns  in  the  heel 
produce  lameness ;  cut  them  out  carefully,  and  dress  the 
part  with  aquafoAis. 

HOOF-BOUND. 

This  appears  from  the  hoofs  being  dry  and  hard,  with 
strait  heels,  which  pinch  the  quick  and  cause  much  pain. 
Pare  the  hoof  thin,  and  open  the  foot  near  the  hair  (if 
the  horse  can  be  spared  from  work  for  a  few  days),  and 
the  hoof  will  spread  sufficiently.  In  the  meantime,  keep 
it  well  oiled  with  goose  or  skunk's  grease ;  after  which, 
put  on  a  thin  shoe  for  two  weeks. 

CRACKED    HOOFS. 

This  commences  on  the  outside  of  the  hoof,  and  pro- 
gresses inwardly.  When  first  noticed,  rasp  the  hoof 
thoroughly,  which  will  generally  effect  a  cure.  If  it  is 
deep,  it  must  be  thoroughly  examined,  and  all  dirt  re- 
moved;  after  which  take  lint  made  of  linen  cloth,  and 
balsam  of  fir,  and  fill  the  crack,  keeping  a  flannel  cloth 
wrapped  round  the  fetlock,  wet  with  vinegar. 


28  THE  farmer's  guide. 

THRUSH,  OR    FROG-AIL. 

This  is  occasioned  by  long  exposure  to  the  wet,  or 
standing  for  a  length  of  time  in  wet  or  moist  dung.  It 
first  appears  by  a  discharge  at  the  side  of  the  frog ;  it 
should  be  attended  to  or  it  will  injure  the  whole  hoof 

Remedy. — Let  the  liorse  be  kept  in  a  dry  stable,  clean 
thoroughly  the  part  affected,  apply  tar,  a  little  warmed, 
twice  a  day,  and  let  the  animal  be  moderately  exercised. 

Wash  to  toughen  the  Hoofs. — Take  a  weak  brine,  and 
bathe  the  hoofs  often ;  it  will  not  only  keep  them  from 
being  tender,  but  it  will  also  prevent  their  cracking,  and 
allay  any  heat  or  fever  a  horse  may  contract  by  working 
hard  in  warm  weather.  The  following  is  another  wash 
which  is  used  with  great  success  :  take  6  oz.  tar,  8  oz. 
whale-oil,  4  oz.  spirits  of  turpentine,  2  oz  lard ;  mix  well, 
and  apply  to  the  hoofs  three  times  a  week.  A  little 
attention  to  keeping  the  stables  clean,  and  occasionally 
examining  the  hoofs  of  horses,  will  prevent  most  of  the 
disorders  to  which  their  feet  are  subject. 

GALLED    BACK. 

The  leaves  of  gypsum,  mashed  and  applied  to  the  pari 
affected,  is  considered  among  the  best  of  remedies.  An- 
other is-,  to  take  smart-weed,  bruised  thoroughly,  add 
chamber-lye  or  salt  and  water,  and  wash  often.  The 
liquid  ought  to  be  kept  in  a  close  iron  pot,  and  applied 
cold.  Another  remedy  :  white  lead,  wet  with  new  milk 
or  cream,  and  applied — a  small  quantity  at  a  time.  An- 
other :  if  the  injury  is  very  severe,  and  the  skin  is  much 
worn,  attended  with  swelling,  bathe  it  with  warm  salt 
and  water,  or  with  warm  human  urine ;  this  will,  gener- 
ally, soon  abate  the  swelling.  If  you  wish  to  dry  it  up 
at  once,  take  powdered  chalk,  or  the  ashes  of  old  shoes, 
and  apply  to  the  back  every  morning.  If  the  part  does 
not  immediately  heal,  it  may  be  necessary  to  give  a  dose 
of  physic  to  purify  the  blood. 

FEVERS. 

It  can  easily  be  ascertained  when  a  horse  has  a  fever, 
by  putting  the  hands  to  the  nostrils,  or  by  pressing  the 
finger  just  back  of  the  upper  corner  of  the  eye.     The 


THE    HORSE.  59 

pulse  of  a  horse  in  good  health  is  about  forty  to  the  min- 
ute. When  it  runs  as  high  as  sixty  or  seventy  it  denotes 
much  fever.  At  this  time  avoid  all  stimulating  drinks, 
feed  light,  and  keep  the  horse  quiet.  If  he  manifest 
great  thirst,  make  a  weak  tea  of  sweet-fern,  clover,  cat- 
nip, thorough  wort,  or  raspberry,  and  give  it  nearly  cold. 
Should  the  fever  not  abate,  give  the  following 

Fever-hall. — Take  of  antimonial  powder,  tartarized 
antimony,  and  camphor,  each  1  dram;  nitre,  castilesoap, 
and  aloes,  each  2  drams  :  mix  with  molasses,  make  into 
a  ball,  and  give  it  in  the  morning  ;  and  in  six  hours  after 
give  the  following 

Purgative  Drink. — Take  4  oz.  Epsom  salts,  -J  oz.  ni- 
tre, \  lb.  coarse  sugar,  dissolve  them  in  one  quart  of  warm 
water,  then  add  6  oz.  castor-oil ;  mix  well,  and  give  one 
gill,  hlood-ivarm,  morning  and  evening,  until  a  proper 
passage  be  obtained. 

Powerful  Mixture  for  Fevers. — If  the  fever  be  high,  it 
will  be  necessaiy  to  bleed  moderately;  and  three  hours 
after  give  the  following  powders  :  1  oz.  tartar  emetic, 
2  oz.  calcined  antimony,  1  oz.  calcined  hartshorn ;  grind 
them,  in  a  mortar,  to  a  fine  powder,  and  keep  in  a  bottle 
well  corked.  Two  drams  will  be  sufficient  for  a  dose, 
which,  with  1  oz,  of  nitre,  may  be  given  three  times  a 
day,  in  a  pint  of  warm  gruel.  If  the  fever  be  violent, 
and  the  horse  in  a  raging  state,  \  an  ounce  of  opium  may 
be  added  to  each  dose  of  powders. 

SCOURS. 

Scours  are  occasioned  by  changing  from  dry  to  green 
food,  a  sudden  change  of  the  atmosphere,  or  from  eating 
some  jDoisonous  plant.  It  is  advisable  not  to  check  it  for 
a  few  hours  after  its  appearance,  that  the  system  may 
become  thoroughly  cleansed.  Take  1  pt.  rye  or  Holland 
gin,  i  oz.  laudanum,  and  \  oz.  indigo  ;  shake  them  well 
in  a  bottle,  and  give  all  at  one  dose.  If  the  disease  does 
not  abate  after  30  hours,  take  \  lb.  mutton-tallow,  2  qts 
new  milk;  boil  15  minutes;  add  1  oz.  ginger  and  1  oz. 
laudanum,  and  give  after  the  horse  has  fasted  three  hours. 
Colts  are  often  troubled  with  this  complaint.  One  fourth 
of  the  above  will  be  a  sufficient  dose  for  colts  of  one  year 
3 


30  THE  farmer's  guide. 

old  ;  but  the  following  is  rather  preferable  :  take  3  eggs, 
1  teacupful  of  wheat-flour,  2  oz.  coffee  (boiled  strong  in 
1  qt.  of  water)  ;  add  all  together,  and  give  ^  a  pint  each 
morning  until  a  cure  is  effected. 

WINDY  COLIC. 
Symptoms. — The  horse  is  very  restless,  lying  down 
and  starting  up  again.  When  the  pain  is  violent,  he  has 
convulsive  twitches  ;  his  eyes  are  turned  up,  and  his 
limbs  stretched  out,  as  if  dying;  and  his  ears  and  feet 
alternately  cold  :  he  falls  into  profuse  sweats,  and  then 
into  cold  damps. 

Causes. — This  disease  often  proceeds  from  catching 
cold  by  drinking  cold  water  when  hot,  and  the  perspira- 
ble matter  is  by  that  means  thrown  upon  the  bowels, 
which  causes  them  to  distend  violently,  and  sometimes 
brings  on  an  inflammation  in  the  small  intestines,  when 
the  body  begins  to  swell,  and  the  cure  is  despaired  of. 

Remedy. — Empty  the  straight  gut  with  a  small  hand 
dipped  in  oil ;  this  gives  room  for  the  wind  to  discharge 
itself,  the  suppression  of  urine  is  removed,  upon  which 
the  horse  immediately  stales,  and  becomes  much  easier. 
If  the  horse  be  young  and  full  of  blood,  take  a  quantity 
from  the  neck.  When  these  purgative  operations  have 
been  performed,  the  following  may  be  given,  as  it  seldom 
fails  to  give  relief:  4  oz.  tincture  of  senna,  6  drams  tinc- 
ture of  opium,  1  dram  oil  of  juniper,  8  oz.  of  juniper  ber- 
ries, bruised  ;  put  1  qt.  of  boiling  water  on  the  juniper 
berries,  let  them  stand  a  few  minutes,  strain  it  off,  put 
all  together,  and  give  them  to  the  horse. 
THE  DRY  GRIPES. 
Symptoms. — This  disorder  mostly  proceeds  from  cos- 
tiveness,  and  is  discovered  by  the  horse's  frequent  and 
fruitless  attempts  to  dung,  the  blackness  and  hardness 
of  the  dung,  the  frequent  motion  of  his  tail,  the  high 
color  of  his  urine,  and  his  great  uneasiness. 

Remedy. — Take  4  oz.  castor-oil,  4  oz.  tincture  of  sen- 
na, -^  oz.  oil  of  juniper ;  give  them  all  together,  and  then 
the  following  clyster :  boil  a  handful  of  marshmallows 
and  camomile  flowers  in  a  quart  of  water,  then  strain  it 
off,  and  add  two  ounces  of  linseed-oil.     If  the  horse  do 


•TflE    HORSE.  SI 

not  men^,  repeat  both  the  diink  and  the.  clyster.  Du- 
ring this  disorder  the  horse  must  not  have  any  dry  food ; 
but  boiled  linseed,  and  scalded  bran,  with  warm  water 
to  drink.  Gentle  walking  exercise  is  a  great  means  to 
cause  the  physic  to  work  ;  but  be  careful  of  cold.  Care- 
fully avoid  all  hot,  violent  medicines,  which  always  prove 
hurtful  in  every  species  of  this  disorder,  and  frequently 
fatal. 

GRUBS. 
Remedy. — Add  a  pint  of  strong  vinegar  to  a  cubic  inch 
of  chalk  ;  when  the  eifervescence  ceases,  drench  the  horse 
with  the  liquid  from  the  bottle. 

BLEEDING. 

It  is  generally  conceded  that  the  best  vein  for  bleeding 
horses  is  in  the  neck,  particularly  in  affections  of  the 
head  and  neck,  which  is  so  well  understood  as  not  to 
need  a  particular  description  here.  No  certain  rule  can 
be  given,  as  it  must  depend  upon  the  disease  and  the  con- 
dition of  the  horse.  Let  the  blood  flow  into  a  pail,  that 
the  quantity  may  be  ascertained.  After  bleeding,  if  the 
blood  be  taken  from  the  head  or  neck,  it  is  well  to  tie  the 
horse's  head  higher  than  usual  for  a  few  hours.  (For 
bleeding  in  the  foot,  see  Founder.) 

KEEPING  HORSESCLEAN, CURRYING, 86C. 

The  experiment  has  often  been  tried,  of  the  benefit  to 
horses  from  being  well  combed  and  kept  clean.  It  has 
been  found  that  a  horse  neglected  as  to  cleanliness,  will 
not  be  so  well  conditioned  for  either  fatness  or  strength, 
though  he  may  have  abundance  of  food.  Frequent 
combing  and  rubbing  not  only  produce  a  healthy  state 
of  the  skin,  which  is  very  conducive  to  a  coiTect  state  of 
the  bowels,  but  adds  essentially  to  the  appearance  and 
activity  of  the  animal. 

REARING    COLTS. 

The  raising  of  this  kind  of  stock  is  rendered  profita 
Die  where  the  right  blood  can  be  obtained.  The  col- 
requires  but  little  attention  after  he  is  one  week  old. 
Until  then,  he  is  so  feeble  that  it  may  be  necessary  to 
confine  the  mother  to  a  limited  pasture,  as  too  much  ex 


32  THE  farmer's  guide. 

ercise  for  the  first  £e\v  days  greatly  injures  him.  Judi- 
cious farmers  confine  the  colt  in  the  stable  if  the  mare  is 
obliged  to  perform  a  large  day's  travel ;  but  care  should 
be  taken,  when  the  mare  returns  at  night  with  a  bag  dis- 
tended with  milk,  that  the  colt  be  kept  from  her  until 
three  fourths  of  the  milk  has  been  extracted  by  hand, 
for,  by  remaining  in  the  bag  so  long  (especially  if  the 
weather  be  warm),  it  is  rendered  impure.  When  colts 
are  five  months  old,  they  can  safely  be  weaned,  after 
which  they  will  require  fresh  tender  clover,  and  rowen. 
They  need  warm  stabling  for  the  first  two  years.  If  the 
breaking  process  is  commenced  carefully  at  two  years 
old,  it  renders  them  the  more  valuable. 


THE    MULE. 

The  great  value  of  the  mule  for  agricultural  purposes 
has  long  been  known  and  generally  acknowledged.  By 
those  who  have  given  this  animal  a  trial,  his  decided 
superiority  to  the  horse  is  universally  conceded.  The 
mule,  it  is  true,  does  not  possess  the  fineness,  symmetry, 
elegance,  or  commanding  action  and  appearance  of  the 
well-bred  horse,  but  for  strength,  patient  endurance  of 
hard  usage,  slender  pasturage,  and  privation,  he  is  far 
better  suited  to  the  general  uses  of  the  fanner,  than  the 
horse  possibly  can  be. 

In  the  New-England  states,  where  these  hybrid  animals 
were  first  introduced  to  any  great  extent,  they  were  the 
offspring  of  such  worthless  progenitors  that  they  never 
became  general  favorites.  The  breeding  of  mules,  how- 
ever, has  been  taken  up  by  the  western  and  southern 
farmers ;  and  throughout  the  slave  states,  especially, 
where  the  stock  is  necessarily  exposed  to  rough  treat- 
ment, they  are  considered  as  an  invaluable  substitute 
for  the  horse.  For  the  caravans  that  pass  over  the  al- 
most inaccessible  ranges  which  form  the  continuation  of 
the  Rocky  mountains,  and  the  extensive  and  arid  plains 
that  lie  between  and  beyond  them,  on  the  route  to  Cali- 
fornia, mules  are  the  only  beasts  of  burden  used  in  these 
exhausting  and  perilous  adventures.     To  sum  up  the 


THE    MULE.  33 

ac^vantages  of  working-mules  over  horses,  for  farming 
piiiposes  :  they  are  more  easily,  surely,  and  cheaply 
raised  ;  they  are  kept,  after  commencing  work,  for  about 
half  the  cost  of  keeping  horses  ;  they  are  not  subject  to 
many  of  the  diseases  of  the  horse,  and  to  others  only  in 
a  mitigated  form — and  even  these  are  easily  cured  in  the 
mule  ;  bleeding  at  the  mouth  will  cure  them  of  almost 
every  disease,  and  by  being  turned  out  to  pasture  they 
will  recover  from  almost  every  accident ;  a  broken- 
winded  one  is  scarcely  ever  known  ;  their  skin  is  tougher 
than  that  of  the  horse,  consequently  they  are  not  as  much 
worried  by  flies,  nor  do  they  suffer  so  much  by  the  heat 
»f  summer;  they  attain  an  age  twice  as  great,  and  their 
average  working  age  is  probably  three  times  as  great  as 
fnat  of  the  horse  ;  the  expenses  of  shoeing  a  mule  do  not 
»^xceed  one  third  that  of  the  horse,  the  animal  being 
/\ghter,  and  his  hoofs  harder,  more  hairy,  and  so  slow  in 
»heir  growth,  that  shoes  require  no  removal,  and  hold 
«n  till  worn  out. 

General  Treatment. — In  breaking  mules  they  should 
>^  mated  with  a  swift-walking  horse.  As  before  stated, 
Aiules  are  but  little  subject  to  disease,  except  inflamma- 
^ion  of  the  intestines,  or  colic  ;  and  that  is  generally 
caused  by  the  grossest  exposure  to  cold  and  wet,  or  the 
excessive  drinking  of  cold  water  after  severe  labor,  while 
in  a  high  state  of  perspiration.  In  severe  cases  of  colic, 
\  treatment  similar  to  that  prescribed  for  the  horse,  on 
page  30,  is  recommended.  In  using  the  medicines,  care 
•should  be  had  to  proportion  the  doses  to  the  comparative 
size  of  the  mule  to  the  horse. 

To  feed  mules  with  hard,  dry  corn,  is  liable  to  pro- 
duce colic.  Oats  are  much  better  feed  in  every  respect, 
and  may  be  given  dry  without  danger,  in  any  quantity, 
though  it  is  better  to  grind,  or  at  least  soak  them  in  wa- 
ter a  few  hours  before  feeding.  Oats  make  tougher 
muscle  and  harder  flesh  to  work  on  than  corn.  If  corn 
is  used,  it  ought  to  be  ground  with  the  cob,  and  mixed 
up  with  water,  slightly  salted,  a  day  or  so  before  being 
used.  If  it  ferments  previous  to  feeding,  or  if  it  can  be 
boiled  like  mush  or  hasty  pudding,  so  much  the  better 
as  it  then  goes  much  farther,  and  is  healthier  for  the  an 
3* 


34  THE  farmer's  guide. 

imal.  When  mules  are  taken  out  to  be  fed,  let  them  get 
a  little  cool  before  being  allowed  to  drink  ;  then  give 
them  a  small  quantity  of  water,  say  one  or  two  quarts, 
and  as  they  cool  give  them  more,  till  they  finally  drink 
as  much  as  they  desire.  If  the  water  be  very  cold,  a 
handful  of  hot  wood-ashes  should  be  thrown  into  the 
bucket  before  drinking — this  is  generally  sure  to  prevent 
any  ill  effects.  A  gill  of  ashes  should  be  given  to  each 
mule  once  a  week  in  their  feed.  Ashes  keep  the  system 
open,  and  kill  worms  and  bots  in  the  intestines.  It 
.would  be  better  to  stable  mules,  especially  when  feeding 
during  very  hot  weather,  in  copious  dewy  nights,  and  in 
cold  rainy  weather.  Their  principal  meal  should  be  at 
night.  During  the  long,  hard-working  days  of  the  sea- 
son, they  ought  to  have  two  hours'  rest  at  noon,  and  one 
to  one  and  a  half  hours'  rest  in  the  shorter  ones. 


NEAT   CATTLE. 

It  is  universally  acknowledged  that  neat  cattle  are 
among  the  choicest  treasures  of  the  husbandman ;  and 
in  order  to  render  them  more  truly  valuable,  a  knowl- 
edge of  their  organization  and  of  the  manner  of  treating 
the  diseases  to  which  they  are  subject,  ought  to  be  pos- 
sessed by  every  individual  to  whose  care  they  are  com- 
mitted. In  order  to  acquire  this  knowledge,  it  is  not 
necessary  to  travel  through  a  multitude  of  cumbrous 
volumes  ;  but  a  sufficient  amount  of  information  is  con- 
tained in  this  little  treatise  to  give  a  general  view  of  the 
subject.  The  writer  will  feel  well  repaid  should  he  be 
the  means  of  preserving  property  from  loss,  or  of  reliev- 
ing and  preventing,  in  some  degree,  the  sufferings  of 
animals  that  have  no  tongue  to  plead  for  themselves. 

RULES     FOR     SELECTING    A    GOOD 
MILCH-CONA^. 

Her  head  should  be  rather  long  and  small;  cheeks  thin; 
muzzle  fine  ;  nostrils  large  and  flexible  ;  eyes  mild,4;lear, 
and  large ;  neck  rather  long,  and  sli77i  near  the  hdad ; 
horns  long  and  small,  and  of  an  orange  color;  small  ear, 
inside  of  a  yellowish  tinge  ;  small  breast ;  back  level  and 


NEAT    CATTLE, 


35 


36  THE    FARMER^S    GUIDE. 

broad,  and  straight  to  the  rump;  well  ribbed;  wide  in 
the  loin  ;  flank  low  ;  thighs  thin  and  deep  ;  hind  legs 
small,  standing  well  apart ;  forelegs  rather  small  below 
the  knee,  above  the  knee  large;  large  teats,  of  a  dark 
orange-color;  bag,  when  empty,  lean,  soft,  and  long; 
large  milking  veins;  hair  short  and  thick;  large  hind- 
quarters ;  color  brindle,  bright  red,  dun,  or  a  light 
brown. 

MARKS  OF  GOOD  NA/ORKING  OXEN. 
It  is  well  to  give  som«  attention  to  the  breed  of  work- 
ing cattle.  A  large  share  of  the  Devon  and  Hereford 
blood  is  very  desirable.  The  animal  ought  to  possess  a 
long  head  and  face;  extended  nostrils;  the  eye  large, 
keen,  and  at  the  same  time  mild  ;  ears  large  and  thin  ; 
horns  moderately  long,  well  spread,  and  not  too  thick  ; 
the  head  somewhat  elevated  ;  neck  not  very  long,  full, 
well  set,  and  moderately  thick  ;  breast  full ;  shouldere 
broad  and  middling  high  set ;  straight  back  ;  well  ribbed  ; 
forelegs  large  and  straight ;  large  knee-joint;  hoof  broad, 
and  the  claws,  or  toes,  set  straight  for ivard  rather  than 
turning  out.  The  most  desirable  colors  are  red  or  biin- 
dle,  with  bright  glossy  hair. 

TO  ASCERTAIN  THE  AGE  OF  CATTLE. 

The  animal  is  born  with  eight  cutting  teeth  in  the  fore- 
part of  the  lower  jaw,  and  when  about  two  years  old  the 
two  middle  ones  fall  out,  and  are  succeeded  by  others; 
at  three  years,  the  two  next  to  them ;  at  four  years,  two 
more ;  and  at  live  years  the  entire  set  of  new  ones  ap- 
pear. After  the  animal  is  five  years  old,  judges  can  deter- 
mine the  age,  with  a  good  degree  of  accuracy,  by  ob- 
serving the  wearing  down  of  the  teeth ;  but  it  is  a  surer 
guide  after  that  period,  to  ascertain  the  age,  to  examine 
the  horns,  as  follows  :  a  cow  has  a  full  horn  at  four  years 
old,  but  it  grows  larger  eveiy  year,  and  for  every  year's 
growth  it  leaves  a  wrinkle  or  ridge  round  the  root,  until 
the  beast  is  twelve  or  thirteen  years  old. 
TREATMENT  FOR  PRESERVING  CATTLE 
IN   GOOD   HEALTH. 

It  is  well  to  keep  them  housed  in  cold  or  wet  weather, 
but  they  do  not  require  the  stable  to  be  very  warm,  as 


NEAT    CATTLE. 


i»?ori  %!  u  '^%^<^'^^<-^^^^^ 


38  THE  farmer's  guide. 

by  keeping  them  in  barns  that  are  very  close,  and  the  ail' 
confined  ot  impure,  their  milk,  as  well  as  their  health,  is 
greatly  injured.  Cattle  recjuire  a  good  supply  of  salt, 
which  ought  to  be  given  them  three  times  a  week ;  and 
a  full  supply  of  pure  water  should  always  be  within  their 
reach,  or  they  require  watering  at  least  as  often  as  three 
times  a  day.  Cattle,  especially  cows,  ought  never  to  be 
kept  in  a  close  stable  with  horses,  as  diseases  are  often 
communicated  from  one  to  the  other.  Nothing  is  more 
hurtful  to  cattle  than  for  them  to  be  stabled  where  the 
rain  is  dropping  upon  them.  Those  that  have  the  care 
of  cows  can  not  be  too  careful  that  they  are  always 
milked  clean ;  if  this  is  not  attended  to  the  cow  gradu- 
ally dries  up. 

Before  proceeding  to  speak  of  the  diseases  of  cattle, 
and  their  treatment,  a  few  suggestions  regarding  their 
age  and  size  may  not  be  improper.  When  administer- 
ing medicines,  the  age  and  constitution  of  the  animal  are 
to  be  considered,  for  a  strong  and  healthy  beast  can  bear 
much  more  than  a  weak  one.  A  beast  under  three  years 
old  is  not  to  be  treated  like  one  of  five  or  six  years  of 
age,  for  its  bowels  are  tender.  As  for  a  bull  of  four 
years  old,  he  is  to  be  treated  in  the  same  manner  as  an 
ox  of  the  same  age.  There  are  some  very  small  speci- 
mens of  cattle,  whose  strength  and  constitution  are  in 
proportion  to  their  size,  and  they  should  be  treated  ac- 
cordingly. 

TO    MAKE  XAR-NA^ATER    FOR  CATTLE. 

Take  1  qt.  of  tar,  put  to  it  4  qts.  of  water,  and  stir  it 
well  for  15  minutes ;  let  it  stand  for  -^  an  hour,  and  pour 
it  off  for  use.     Do  not  put  water  to  the  same  tar  more 
than  twice,  and  give  as  hereafter  prescribed. 
PHYSIC. 

Purgatives  are  among  the  most  useful  of  medicines 
and,  when  properly  administered,  are  of  incalculable 
benefit  to  the  husbandman  in  arresting  and  curing  most 
of  the  diseases  to  which  his  cattle  are  subject.  Great 
care  should  however  be  taken  that  the  ingi-edients  used 
are  good,  and  that  too  large  quantities  are  not  given  at 
one  time. 


NEAT    CATTLE.  39 

PURGING    DRINK. 

Take  1  lb.  glauber  salts,  2  oz.  powdered  ginger,  -J  pt. 
molasses  ;  put  all  the  ingredients  together,  pour  3  pints 
boiling  water  upon  them,  and  give  the  whole  at  once,  at 
blood-warm  temperature.  Another :  take  1  lb.  Epsom 
salts,  2  oz.  each  of  powdered  aniseseed  and  ginger,  ^  pt. 
molasses ;  mix,  and  give  in  the  same  manner  as  the  pre- 
ceding. Another:  take  1  pint  of  linseed  or  castor-oil, 
and  give  with  warm  water.  Aloes  are  very  extensively 
used  for  physic ;  4  drams  is  considered  a  dose. 

Purging  drinks  are  good  for  inflammatory  complaints, 
for  jaundice,  or  for  costiveness.  They  can  be  given 
moderately  to  old  cattle  once  in  six  or  eight  weeks  with 
much  benefit. 

BLEEDING. 

Bleeding  is  necessary,  and  of  great  service,  in  all  in- 
flammations, fevers,  bruises  about  the  eyes,  and  sprains 
when  accompanied  with  inflammatory  symptoms.  Great 
care  and  judgment  are  necessary  in  bleeding,  lest  it 
should  be  carried  to  excess.  It  is  hazardous  to  bleed 
when  the  spirits  are  too  much  exhausted  or  weakened. 
It  is  most  proper  to  bleed  by  measure  ;  and  experience 
has  warranted  the  rule,  that  not  more  than  two  quarts 
should  be  taken  away  at  any  one  time. 

HOVEN,  OR   SWELLING  OFTHE  BON/VELS. 

This  disorder  is  a  temporary  one,  and  results  from 
turning  the  cattle  from  short  pastures  upon  wet  and  lux- 
uriant clover,  or  other  succulent  food.  It  is  not  the  clo- 
ver that  causes  it,  but  too  much  herbage  being  thrown 
into  the  stomach,  it  heats  and  swells  before  it  is  thrown 
back  again,  and  when  the  weight  presses  upon  the  arte- 
ries or  blood-vessels,  it  causes  a  stagnation  or  stoppage 
of  the  blood,  and  unless  relief  be  soon  obtained  the  ani- 
mal dies  of  suffocation. 

Symptoms. — Great  difficulty  of  breathing,  the  paunch 
is  immoderately  swollen,  the  animal  exhibits  signs  of  great 
pain,  and  in  the  latter  stages  the  tongue  protrudes  out 
of  the  mouth  ;  a  trembling  succeeds,  and  the  beast  dies. 

Remedy. — If  the  attack  is  slight,  give  ^  a  teacupful 
spirits  of  turpentine  added  to  J  a  pint  of  lamp-oil ;  or  if 


40  THE  farmer's  guide. 

these  are  not  at  hand,  take  8  oz.  of  melted  butter  and 
give  all  at  one  dose.  Other  remedies:  1,  give  1  pt.  of 
of  lamp-oil ;  2,  give  2  qts.  of  strong  brine  ;  3,  give  a  ta- 
blespoonful  of  ammonia  mixed  with  1  pint  of  water ; 
4,  give  i  pt.  of  fresh  weak  lye  from  wood  ashes  ;  5,  give 
a  teaspoonful  of  unslaked  lime  in  1  quart  of  lukewarm 
water,  and  give  immediately ;  6,  give  1  pt.  of  rye  gin  or 
French  brandy;  7,  give  2  qts.  of  tar-water  with  1  qt.  of 
new  milk  ;  8,  give  2  qts.  of  strong  thorough  wort  tea  with 
J  oz.  of  weak  spirits  of  camphor.  Another :  if  the  attack 
is  very  severe,  the  first  thing  to  be  don43  is  to  let  blood 
pretty  freely  ;  then  give  3  gills  of  sweet-oil  or  -J  a  lb.  of 
melted  butter.  If  the  beast  be  able  to  move,  walk  it 
about  a  little;  if  this  does  not  give  I'elief,  as  a  last  resort 
take  a  sharp  penknife  and  make  an  incision  on  the  left 
side,  about  1^  inches  forward  of  the  hip-bone,  and  back 
of  the  last  rib.  The  cut  should  be  2^  inches  deep  to 
reach  the  paunch.  Be  careful  that  you  do  not  strike  the 
loin,  for  when  the  animal  is  so  much  swollen,  it  is  very 
deceiving.  If  the  hole  fills  up,  insert  a  goose-quill  or 
tube,  and,  after  the  wind  has  escaped,  apply  a  strong 
plaster  of  Burgundy  pitch  or  common  wax;  and  when 
the  disorder  has  subsided,  put  a  strong  pin  through  the 
sides  of  the  wound,  and  tie  it  up  close  with  a  strong 
thread.  It  is  well  to  give  a  moderate  dose  of  physic 
once  or  twice  after  the  animal  has  recovered.  When 
cattle  have  eaten  poisonous  substances,  the  stomach- 
pump  can  be  used  with  great  advantage. 

Prevention. — When  cattle  are  Jii-st  put  into  a  clover- 
field,  they  should  not  be  allowed  to  fill  themselves,  espe- 
cially if  the  dew  is  on,  or  if  it  is  rainy  weather,  before 
being  removed.  If  this  is  followed  for  a  few  days,  no 
injury  will  result. 

POISONS. 

There  are  several  vegetables  that  are  poisonous  to  an- 
imals, such  as  fox-glove,  wild  saffron,  deadly  nightshade, 
poison  hemlock,  branches  of  the  yew,  wilted  leaves  of 
the  wild  cherry,  laurel,  crowsfoot,  and  some  others. 

Symptoms. — Swelled  and  inflamed  eyelids  ;  body  much 
swollen  ;  dizziness,  reeling,  inaction,  and  drowsiness. 


NEAT    CATTLfi.  41 

Remedi/, — Take  1  pt.  gin  and  \  pt.  molasses,  and  give 
at  one  dose.  Another  :  take  2  oz.  salts  tartar  and  l2  oz. 
JEpsom  salts,  dissolve  in  6  qts.  of  water,  and  give  four 
times  a  day  in  four  equal  parts.  Another:  bleed  mod- 
erately, and  give   6  oz.  castor-oil  or  i  lb.  fresh  butter  in 

1  qt.  of  warm  water.     Another :  give  2  oz.  castor-oil,  and 

2  oz.  fresh  butter,  in  1  quart  new  milk.  Another :  give 
1  pt  linseed-oil  and  1  pt.  molasses.  Give  salt  freely  in 
all  cases. 

CHOKING. 

Turnips  and  potatoes,  and  some  other  substances,  often 
lodge  in  the  throat  of  cattle,  and  are  sometimes  difficult 
to  remove.  "When  the  obstruction  is  in  the  throat  (after 
the  head  of  the  animal  is  secured,  and  precaution  taken 
to  prevent  the  arm  being  bitten  by  the  animal)  the  hand 
can  remove  it,  but  when  it  is  farther  down,  near  the 
stomach,  it  can  be  removed  by  some  one  of  the  following 

Kemedies. — Give  a  pint  of  strong  soap-suds,  holding 
the  head  high.  Another  :  sometimes  by  stopping  the 
breath  a  moment  by  holding  the  windpipe,  and  starting 
the  animal  very  suddenly,  the  obstruction  will  be  carried 
down.  Another:  should  the  substance  that  causes  the 
obstruction  be  of  a  soft  character,  and  lay  high  in  the 
neck,  place  a  smooth  block  on  one  side  of  the  throat, 
and  strike  gently  on  the  other  side  with  a  mallet,  by 
which  it  will  be  crushed,  and  dislodged.  Unless  great 
care  be  taken,  the  throat  will  be  injured  and  inflamma- 
tion produced.  Another:  as  a  last  resort,  take  a  small 
pliable  willow, |^  of  an  inch  thick,  and  4  feet  long;  round 
it  smoothly  at  the  end,  and  wrap  tow  or  cotton  firmly 
round  it,  about  the  size  of  a  small  hen's  e^^  ;  wet  it  in 
soap-suds,  and  push  it  down  the  throat  very  gently,  and 
the  obstruction  will  be  carried  into  the  stomach.  Care 
ought  be  taken  that  all  hard  substances  should  be  cut 
fine,  and  the  cattle  not  disturbed  while  eating. 

COUGHS,  COLDS,  AND  HOOSE. 

These  are  common  among  cattle,  and  first  show  them- 
selves by  the  eyes  looking  heavy,  mouth  dry,  heaves  in 
the  flank,  loss  of  flesh  attended  with  a  cough  or  wheez- 
4 


42  THE  farmer's  guide. 

ing,  and  indisposition  to  eat;  and  often  tlie  dung  and 
water  fly  from  the  animal  in  small  quantities. 

Remedy. — The  disease  will  sometimes  abate  by  keep- 
ing the  animal  warmly  housed,  and  giving  warm  drinks 
made  of  catnip,  sage,  or  pennyroyal,  with  a  good  supply 
of  molasses  added.  Another :  take  1  oz.  elecampane, 
2  oz.  liquorice,  2  oz.  honey,  and  i  pt.  molasses  ;  add  1  qt. 
warm  water,  mix,  and  give  after  6  hours'  fasting.  An- 
other :  if  the  the  disease  has  been  of  long  standing,  or  if 
it  has  fallen  upon  the  lungs,  and  is  attended  with  fever, 
in  the  first  place  draw  1  qt.  of  blood  j  after  which  take 
4  oz.  liverwort,  4  oz.  cream  of  tartar,  2  oz.  of  nitre,  and 
1  oz.  of  saftron  ;  boil  them  together  10  minutes,  in  2  qts. 
of  water,  strain,  and  give  warm,  half  at  once,  and  half 
8  hours  after.  Should  the  disease  still  continue,  take 
1  oz.  saffron,  2  oz.  liquorice-root,  1  dram  squills,  ^  pt. 
molasses,  and  2  qts.  of  water;  mix,  divide  into  4  parts, 
and  give  one  every  12  hours. 

QUINSY. 

At  the  beginning  of  this  disease  the  beast  slavers  much, 
thrusts  out  its  head,  and  appears  languid.  Let  the  ani- 
mal be  brought  into  a  warm  stable,  and  the  glands  of  the 
throat  rubbed  with  the  following  ointment :  equal  parts 
of  spirits  of  turpentine,  linseed-oil,  and  hartshorn.  It 
ought  to  be  applied  four  times  a  day.  If  it  is  necessary  to 
open  the  swelling,  make  a  wash  of  1  oz.  alum  and  i  oz. 
camphor,  and  occasionally  wash  the  wound  until  it  is 
well. 

NA^OUNDS. 

Much  depends  upon  the  nature  of  the  part  where  the 
wound  is  received.  If  it  is  in  a  fleshy  part,  endeavor  to 
keep  the  wound  sufiiciently  open  to  allow  any  matter 
that  may  collect  to  escape ;  if  it  is  a  bony  part  that  is  in- 
jured, keep  the  wound  together  by  adhesive  plasters. 
Slight  wounds  in  cattle  are  healed  very  readily  by  ap- 
plying the  yolk  of  a  fresh  e^g  and  turpentine  twice  a 
day.  Another ;  take  4  oz.  linseed  oil,  3  oz.  fine  salt,  -J 
pt.  molasses,  1  oz.  copperas;  boil  10  minutes, let  it  stand 
until  nearly  cold,  add  3  oz.  tuipentine  and  J  an  oz.  oil 
of  vitriol;   make  the  whole  into  a  salve,  and  bind  on  a 


NEAT   CATTLE.  43 

small  quantity  at  a  time,  changing  it  daily.  When  a 
wound  has  been  a  length  of  time  in  healing,  proud  flesh 
will  sometimes  appear.  This  can  be  eaten  off  with  a 
very  small  quantity  of  red  precipitate  or  blue  vitriol. 

Maggots  in  Wounds. — Wash  the  wound  with  weak 
soap-suds,  and  apply  tar  and  lard,  in  equal  quantities, 
keeping  the  wound  from  exposure  to  the  weather. 

STAGGERS. 

This  disease  is  most  common  in  the  spring  to  cattle 
that  have  been  kept  poorly  during  the  winter. 

Symptoms. — Drowsiness,  inflamed  eyes,  head  hanging 
down,  and  reeling. 

Rernedy. — Give  a  thorough  dose  of  physic,  and  injec- 
tions if  necessary.     (See  staggers  in  horses,  p.  21.) 

BLOODY   MURRAIN. 

Cause. — Intelligent  men  widely  differ  as  to  the  cause 
of  this  disease.  It  is,  however,  very  certain,  that  the 
following  are  among  the  most  prominent,  viz. :  bad  wa- 
ter; sudden  change  of  food,  from  green  to  dry;  feeding 
in  low,  damp,  cold,  meadows  and  clay  lands.  In  exam- 
ining cattle  that  have  died  from  this  disease,  their  liver 
has  been  found  to  be  perforated  by  worms  resembling 
the  common  leach  that  is  found  in  some  swamp-lands. 

Symptoms. — Loss  of  appetite  ;  slight  cough  ;  heaving 
of  the  flanks  ;  dulness  of  the  eyes  ;  coldness  of  the  horns  ; 
shaking  of  the  head  ;  partial  deafness  ;  tenderness  over 
the  loins  ;  stupidity;  great  debility ;  running  at  the  eyes 
and  nose  ;  slight  fever  ;  nauseous  breath,  and  sometimes 
small  eruptions  on  the  skin ;  staggering  when  walking  ; 
constant  discharge  of  green,  black,  and  sometimes  bloody 
matter  from  the  bowels.  If  not  relieved  soon,  the  ani- 
mal discharges  blood  and  water  from  the  mouth  and  nos- 
trils, reels,  falls,  and  dies. 

Remedies. — When  the  disease  first  appears,  remove 
the  animal  from  the  rest  of  the  stock  (as  this  disorder  is 
contagious)  to  a  cool  dry  stable.  Take  1  lb.  Epsom 
salts,  dissolve  and  give  them  in  warm  water.  Take  3  pts. 
blood  from  the  neck;  rub  well  with  warm  water  and 
vinegar.     If  the  physic  Joes  not  operate,  give  an  injec- 


44 

tion  of  2  oz.  of  linseed  oil,  2  drams  saltpetre,  and  1  quart 
warm  water;  mix,  and  use  while  warm.  If  the  howels 
are  now  open,  give  -J  pt.  of  linseed  oil.  Should  it  be 
desirable  to  stop  the  purging,  take  ^  oz.  ginger,  3  oz. 
powdered  chalk,  1  oz.  laudanum,  and  give  in  1  qt.  luke- 
warm water.  While  the  animal  is  recovering,  give  stim- 
ulating drink  occasionally.  Let  it  run  in  a  dry  pasture. 
Another:  At  its  first  attack  take  away  2  qts.  of  blood; 
then  give  1  a  teacupful  of  lard,  and  the  same  quantity 
of  fine  salt,  in  warm  water.  Another:  melt  1  teacup- 
ful of  lard,  add  1  oz.  ginger  and  1  gill  of  turpentine,  and 
give  while  warm,  followed  by  2  quarts  of  warm  water. 
Another :  take  a  teacupful  of  cedar  bei'ries,  steep  ^  an 
hour,  add  1  pint  of  molasses,  and  give  while  warm. 

As  this  is  among  diseases  that  are  diflScult  to  cure,  it 
may  not  be  amiss  to  make  the  following  suggestions  by 
way  of  prevention  :  Give,  occasionally,  tar-water,  or  put 
tar  in  the  bottoms  of  troughs  where  the  cattle  are  yard- 
ed.    Salt  often,  adding  a  little  lime,  sulphur,  and  ashes. 

RED   NA^ATER. 

Some  of  the  symptoms  of  this  disease,  and  some  of  the 
remedies  for  it,  are  similar  to  those  under  the  head  of 
bloody  murrain.  Cows  are  subject  to  it  soon  after  calv- 
ing; or  it  may  be  produced  by  injuries  near  the  loins  or 
kidneys,  or  by  sudden  changes  from  heat  to  cold. 

Symptoms . — A  slight  attack  of  the  dysentery,  and  a 
discharge  of  bloody  urine,  which  is  soon  followed  by 
red  water,  chills  and  fevers,  hard  breathing,  dulness,  and 
straining  to  discharge  urine,  attended  with  great  de- 
bility. 

Remedy, — Take  away  2  qts.  of  blood,  and  give  physic 
as  prescribed  in  the  last  disease ;  and  likewise  give  in- 
jections if  necessary,  to  bi'ing  the  bowels  to  a  proper, 
state.  Another  :  after  bleeding  as  above,  give  4  oz.  Ep- 
som salts,  2  oz.  ginger,  \  oz.  saltpetre,  3  oz.  linseed  oil,  in 
2  quarts  of  warm  water,  and  keep  the  animal  housed  for 
two  days.  Another  :  when  the  disease  assumes  a  chronic 
form,  give  \  pint  linseed  oil,  2  oz.  ginger,  and  1  pt.  of 
molasses,  at  one  dose,  followed  by  moderate  draughts  of 
warm  water.     Another:  take  4   oz.  gum  arabic,  2  oz. 


NEAT    CATTLE.  45 

castile  soap,  ^-  oz.  balsam  copalva,  4  oz.  Epsom  salts,  and 
•^  jjt.  molasses,  and  give  with  weak  rhubarb  tea. 

LICE. 

As  lice  do  not  immediately  endanger  the  life  of  the 
beast,  it  is  often  neglected,  much  to  the  injuiy  of  its 
owner,  for  it  is  almost  impossible  for  an  animal  to  thrive 
while  thus  afflicted. 

Remedy. — Sprinkling  snufF  moderately  on  the  animal 
will  generally  effect  a  cure.  Another:  take  2  oz.  tobac- 
co-leaves, boil  in  2  quarts  of  water,  and  apply  cold  ;  this, 
however,  is  not  considered  as  safe  for  the  animal,  as  fresh 
buttermilk  applied  lukewarm.  Another:  take  water  in 
which  potatoes  have  been  boiled,  add  2  oz.  melted  lard, 
and  rub  over  the  beast.  Another :  any  kind  of  fish  oil 
or  lard  well  applied  as  above.  Another:  take  equal 
parts  of  rye  whiskey  and  warm  water,  and  apply  as 
above. 

FEVER. 

Cattle  are  more  liable  to  be  attacked  with  fevers,  by 
the  sudden  changes  in  the  atmosphere,  in  the  spring 
and  fall,  than  at  other  seasons  of  the  year.  Too  much 
care  can  not  be  taken  with  young  cattle,  especially,  that 
they  be  not  exposed  to  storms  and  severe  cold. 

Sym-ptoms. — Swelling  and  redness  of  the  eyes,  pulse 
quick,  heat  at  the  root  of  the  horns,  cold  at  the  ends  of 
the  ears,  dryness  of  the  nose,  dulness,  and  poor  appetite. 

Remedy. — Always  bleed  moderately  in  its  earliest  sta- 
ges, but  never  let  blood  after  the  fever  has  progressed 
two  or  three  days.  If  th*i  fever  does  not  immediately 
abate  after  bleeding,  give  |-  lbs.  Epsom  salts,  dissolved 
in  warm  water ;  should  this  not  operate  within  half  a 
day,  give  an  injection  of  soap-suds  and  -i  an  oz.  linseed 
oil ;  if  this  treatment  does  not  bring  the  bowels  to  a 
proper  state,  give  small  doses  of  physic  every  12  hours 
until  it  operates. 

INFLAMMATION    OF  THE   STOMACH. 

This  is  produced  by  changing  suddenly  from  dry  to 
wet  or  green  food,  or  by  eating  green  corn  and  noxious 
weeds. 

4* 


46  THB  farmer's  guide. 

Symptoms. — Restlessness,  lying  down,  soon  getting  up 
again,  voiding  water  often,  and  wildness  and  redness  of 
the  eyes. 

Remedy. — Purge  freely  with  castor-oil,  melted  lard, 
Epsom  salts,  sulphur,  or  linseed  oil ;  give  the  usual 
quantity. 

INFLAMMATION    OF  THE   BONA/^ELS. 

This  is  produced  by  the  animal  being  too  high  fed, 
and  want  of  exercise,  or  in  going  into  the  water  after 
being  over-heated  or  greatly  fatigued,  or  a  very  sudden 
change  of  the  atmosphere  from  heat  to  cold. 

Symptoms. — Great  costiveness,  mouth  and  nostrils 
very  hot  and  dry,  fever,  restlessness,  and  eyes  inflamed. 

Remedy. — Bleed  2  quarts,  if  the  attack  is  very  severe  ; 
or  sometimes  an  active  dose  of  physic  will  effect  a  cure. 
Should  the  physic  not  operate  in  half  an  hour,  give  an 
injection,  and  continue  to  give  small  doses  of  physic  un- 
til it  operates ;  after  which  feed  on  light  food  (such  as 
bran)  for  24  hours. 

INFLAMMATION    OF  THE  BOWKLS. 

Causes. — This  is  caused  by  being  exposed  to  storms, 
great  changes  in  the  atmosphere,  or  being  over-driven 
or  over- worked  and  afterward  lying  on  damp  ground  and 
taking  cold. 

Symptoms. — Discharging  from  the  nose,  cough,  heat- 
ed breath,  coldness  in  all  the  extremities,  languor,  and 
drowsiness. 

Remedy. — As  soon  as  the  disease  shows  itself,  bleed  3 
quarts ;  and  in  6  hours  give  a  small  dose  of  physic,  and 
give  light  food  for  3  days.  Another  :  after  bleeding,  give 
1  pt.  linseed  or  castor-oil,  and  feed  on  wheat  or  rye 
bran,  giving  warm  drinks  made  of  flaxseed,  ginger,  and 
molasses.  Another:  lessen  the  quantity  of  blood  by  fre- 
quent bleeding,  by  which  the  great  efiiux  of  blood  upon 
the  temporal  artery  may  be  lessened  ;  take  \  lb.  glauber 
salts,  1  dram  tartarized  antimony,  2  drams  camphor,  \  a 
pint  molasses,  adding  3  pints  boiling  water,  and  give 
blood  warm. 


NEAT    CATTLE.  47 

THE   FRENZY,  OR    INFLAMMATION   OF 
THE    BRAIN. 

Causes. — This  is  a  heavy  disorder,  occasionally  at- 
tacking cattle  that  are  in  high  flesh,  and  usually  in  the 
heat  of  summer,  and  is  occasioned  by  either  rich  food  or 
heat  of  the  sun,  which  induces  a  rush  of  blood  to  the 
head  ;  or  by  wounds  or  contusions  in  the  head,  attended 
with  violent  inflammations. 

S7/??iptoms. — Acute  fever,  disturbed  and  frightful  coun- 
tenance, small  signs  of  madness,  trembling  and  stag- 
gering, loss  of  appetite,  deafness,  and  partial  blindness, 
and  unless  relief  is  obtained,  the  animal  soon  dies. 

Remedy. — House  in  a  dark  stable,  away  from  noise ; 
bleed  freely,  which  repeat,  if  necessary,  in  12  hours; 
take  1  oz.  jalap,  1  oz.  asafoetida,  1  dram  calomel,  2  oz. 
castile  soap  (cut  fine) ;  mix  with  1  pt.  of  molasses.  Th'i 
is  a  powerful  dose,  but  it  will  answer  to  give  it  at  once 
to  a  large  beast.  When  recovering,  beware  of  over-ex- 
ertion or  solid  food  for  three  days. 

MADNESS. 

Cause. — This  is  occasioned  by  the  bite  of  a  rabid  dog. 
It  may  sometimes  be  cured  by  cutting  out  all  the  flesh 
adjoining  the  wound,  and  causing  it  to  bleed  as  much  as 
possible,  and  applying  lunar  caustic,  or  chloride  of  lime, 
or  potash.  There  is,  however,  no  certain  cure  for  the 
malady ;  therefore,  when  once  the  strong  symptoms  of 
the  malady  appear,  it  will  be  a  mercy  to  kill  the  animal. 

Symptoms. — Saliva  running  from  the  mouth,  loss  of 
appetite,  eyes  red  and  weeping,  continual  voiding  of 
urine  and  dung,  extreme  thirst  in  its  latter  stages,  terri- 
ble agony,  attended  with  weakness  and  reeling,  which 
continue  till  death. 

Caution. — Great  care  should  be  taken  while  cutting 
out  the  wound  that  none  of  the  poisonous  matter  be  com- 
municated to  the  operator,  and  that  the  knife  be  prop- 
erly cleaned. 

BOTS    AND    WORMS. 

These  are  very  seldom  found  in  cattle,  yet  they  have 
been  known  to  catch  them  from  horses,  when  confined 


48  THE    FARMER  S    GUIDE. 

in  the  same  stable  with  them.  The  treatment  in  sura 
cases  should  be  much  the  same  as  that  pursued  toward 
horses,  only  the  doses  should  be  smaller. 

COLIC. 

Cause. — This  results  from  drinking  very  cold  water, 
and  other  causes. 

Symptoms. — Great  restlessness,  constantly  lying  down 
and  getting  up  again,  eyes  red  and  watery  ;  without 
thirst  or  fever. 

Remedy. — Take  2  qts.  water,  add  1  oz.  ginger,  1  gill 
rye-gin,  i  pt.  molasses  or  ^^  lb.  coarse  brown  sugar,  and 
give  while  moderately  warm.  Another:  take  1  pt.  of 
linseed  or  castor  oil,  and  give  with  warm  water  as  above. 
If  this  does  not  relieve  the  animal,  give  active  injections, 
as  before  described.  Another :  take  3  drams  castile 
soap,  1  dram  ginger;  boil  10  minutes  in  1  qt.  water,  and 
give  when  lukewarm. 

YELLOWS,  OR  JAUNDICE. 

It  is  difficult  to  detect  the  early  approach  of  this  dis- 
ease, as  it  is  not  attended  with  much  pain  or  striking 
symptoms.  It  comes  on  very  gradually,  and  is  occasioned 
by  an  affection  of  the  liver,  or  gall  stones,  which  accu- 
mulate in  too  large  numbers  to  pass  freely  through  the 
canal  which  leads  into  the  larger  intestines.  It  may 
likewise  be  occasioned  by  the  altered  quality  of  the  bile, 
or  by  high  food  and  little  exercise. 

Symptoms. — Dulness,  yellowness  of  the  eyes  and  skin, 
loss  of  appetite,  high  color  of  the  urine,  dry  hard  skin, 
great  languor  and  drowsiness. 

Remedy. — Take  2  oz.  aniseseed,  2  oz.  tumeric  root, 
1  oz.  salt  tartar,  I  oz.  castile  soap,  1  gill  molasses  ;  add 
1  qt.  boiling  water,  and  give  blood-warm.  Another  : 
bleed  moderately,  and  if  the  animal  is  costive,  give  a  full 
dose  of  physic  ;  after  this  has  operated  thoroughly,  astrin- 
gents may  be  given,  such  as  drinks  made  of  wild  cherry 
bark,  birch  bark,  or  white-oak  bark,  with  i  oz.  laudanum 
added.  As  the  beast  is  recovering,  give  warming  drinks 
made  of  gentian  root,  ginger,  pennyroyal,  sage,  or  balm. 


NEAf    CATTLE*  49 

DYSENTERY,    DIARRHCEA,   OR    LOOSE- 
NESS. 

This  is  very  common  among  cattle,  and  weakens  them 
very  much.  There  are  many  causes  operaling  to  pro- 
duce this  complaint,  such  as  exposure  to  severe  storms, 
change  from  dry  to  green  food  (especially  clover),  drink- 
ing lime-water,  pasturing  in  low,  marshy  lands  in  the 
spring  or  fall,  long  fatiguing  journeys,  over-exertion,  eat- 
ing unripe  fruit  in  large  quantities,  or  poisonous  plants, 
and  sometimes  from  injuries  about  the  abdomen. 

Symjitoms. — It  is  soon  discovered  by  the  dung,  or  by 
great  efforts  to  void  it,  which  indicates  the  first  stages  of 
the  disease.  It  ought  not  to  be  checked  under  twelve 
hours  from  its  commencement,  if  produced  from  over- 
eating green  food.  As  the  disease  advances,  the  dis- 
charge becomes  slimy,  nauseous,  mixed  with  mucus 
or  the  inner  lining  of  the  intestines,  and  often  tinged* 
with  blood.  The  digestive  powers  do  not  discharge 
their  functions,  as  the  food  passes  off  only  in  part 
digested.  If  the  attack  is  only  slight,  it  may  pass  in  a 
short  time  without  medicine,  but  it  is  necessary  to  see 
that  the  disease  does  not  become  seated,  as  it  will  then 
be  more  difficult  to  cure. 

Remedy. — Take  2  qts.  of  blood  from  the  neck;  after 
which  give  J  lb.  Epsom  salts,  with  1  oz.  senna  (or  1  oz. 
caraway-seed  steeped  15  minutes),  add  1  qt.  warm  wa- 
ter, and  give  in  a  lukewarm  state.  If  this  does  not  re- 
lieve the  animal  within  6  hours,  take  white-pine  bark, 
white-beach  bark,  and  white-oak  bark,  make  a  strong  tea, 
adding  2  qts  of  new  milk,  and  give  blood-warm.  Anoth- 
er :  if  it  is  not  convenient  to  bleed,  and  the  disease  is  vio- 
lent, take  white-pine  wood,  burn  it  to  a  coal,  then  pound 
4  oz.  fine,  add  to  it  \  lb.  lard  or  fresh  butter;  mix  tlie 
whole  with  2  qts.  new  milk,  and  give  warm,  in  4  equal 
parts,  at  intervals  of  12  hours.  Another  :  take  2  oz.  laud- 
anum, 2  drams  ginger,  i  oz.  powdered  chalk;  dissolve 
in  1  qt.  new  milk,  and  give  warm  after  the  animal  has 
fasted  8  hours. 

DIURETICS. 

Diuretics  are  often  productive  of  good,  causing  a  co- 
pious flow  of  urine,  calculated  to  allay  or  prevent  fevers 


50  THE  farmer's  guide. 

and  other  disorders.  The  following  are  generally  used 
for  remedies  :  rosin,  gin,  cream  of  tartar,  tui-pentine,  to- 
bacco, saltpetre,  carrots,  turnips,  apples,  potash,  pump- 
kins, and  green  corn-stalks.  Care  should  be  had  that 
too  large  doses  are  not  given. 

BLACK  TONGUE. 

This  is  not  a  very  common  disease,  but  it  is  difficult  to 
cure  unless  taken  in  its  first  stages.  None  pretend  to 
account  for  the  cause  of  this  complaint ;  it  generally  ra- 
ges in  very  cold  weather,  and  among  cattle  that  are 
poorly  fed. 

Symiitoms. — Dizziness,  dulness  of  the  eyes  ;  the  tongue 
is  very  much  swollen  and  of  a  black  color;  it  continues 
to  swell  until  it  cracks,  and  the  disease  extends  to  the 
vital  parts,  and  the  animal  soon  dies.  Much  can  be  done 
by  way  of  prevention.  When  it  appears  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, cattle  ought  to  have  their  bowels  kept  open 
by  gentle  purgatives,  and  kept  apart  from  those  that  are 
diseased,  and  fed  twice  a  day  on  turnips  or  potatoes. 

Remedy. — When  it  first  makes  its  appearance,  put  the 
beast  in  a  warm  stable ;  take  the  inside  bark  of  white- 
pine,  boil  it  i  an  hour,  add  2  oz.  cream  of  tartar,  and 
wash  the  mouth  freely ;  take  a  small  quantity  of  blood 
from  the  neck,  and  give  -J  lb.  Epsom  salts  ;  in  2  hours 
give  2  qts.  weak  tar-water,  and  repeat  it  every  8  hours. 

HORN-AIL,  OR   HOLLOW   HORN. 

This  disorder  usually  attacks  cattle  in  the  spring,  after 
a  severe  winter,  and  likewise  those  that  are  in  low  flesh, 
or  those  that  have  been  over-worked  and  exposed  to 
severe  storms,  or  reduced  by  other  diseases,  or  predis- 
posed to  take  it. 

Symptoms. — Eyes  dull  and  discharging  yellow  matter, 
dizziness,  loss  of  appetite,  shaking  of  the  head,  bloody 
urine,  coldness  of  the  horns,  stupidity,  and  great  debility. 

Remedy. — When  the  symptoms  first  appear,  house  in 
a  warm  stable,  rub  spirits  of  turpentine  and  vinegar,  in 
equal  parts,  round  the  roots  of  the  horns  and  back  of  the 
ears ;  take  a  double  horse-blanket  and  girt  the  animal  ; 
bleeding  is  sometimes  resorted  to,  but  it  is  very  danger- 
ous and  often  fatal ;  take  1  oz.  saltpetre,  4  oz.  Epsom 


NEAT    CATTLE.  51 

Baits,  2  oz.  cream  of  tartar,  dissolve  in  wanii  water,  and 
give  all  at  one  dose,  and  repeat  it  night  and  morning  if 
necessary.  If  the  ahove  does  not  operate,  take  1  pt.  of 
flaxseed,  boil  in  3  pts.  water  for  20  minutes,  add  1  pt. 
new  milk,  strain,  and  add  1  pt.  linseed  or  castor  oil,  and 
2  tablespoonfuls  of  fine  salt,  and  give  as  an  injection. 
Another:  Give  a  moderate  dose  of  physic,  then  take  1 
gill  fine  salt,  1  teaspoonful  of  black  pepper,  and  J  pt.  of 
cider  vinegar,  and  pour  into  each  ear,  keeping  it  in  for 
a  moment.  Warm  clothes  wet  in  vinegar,  applied  to  the 
horns  for  a  length  of  time,  and  1  oz.  black  pepper,  and  2 
tablespoonfuls  of  soot,  have  been  found  of  great  benefit. 

HOOF-AIL. 

Cause. — This  is  produced  by  driving  cattle  long  jour- 
neys on  hard,  gravelly,  or  clayey  roads,  by  letting  them 
stand  in  the  water  while  warm,  and  by  other  causes. 

Symptoms. — Swelling  above  the  hoof  and  between  the 
claws,  which  occasions  lameness,  attended  with  fever. 

Remedy. — Take  l  pt.  vinegar  and  strong  soap-suds, 
and  wash  thoroughly ;  take  fresh  butter  or  lard,  adding 
2  grains  of  corrosive  sublimate,  and  apply  to  the  aflTected 
part,  and  put  over  this  a  thin  wax  plaster  to  keep  the 
beast  from  licking  it,  as  the  corrosive  sublimate  is  a 
deadly  poison.  Applying  a  solution  of  blue  vitriol  or 
opodeldoc  to  the  hoof,  after  it  has  been  well  cleaned,  will 
often  effect  a  cure.  Another :  apply  a  poultice  made  of 
boiled  turnips  and  lard. 

MANGE,   SCROFULA,    SCURF,   OR  SCAB. 

This  disorder  is  not  very  common,  yet  it  is  dangerous 
if  neglected.  It  is  a  cutaneous  disease,  caused  by  an 
impure  state  of  the  blood,  arising  from  various  causes. 

Symptoms. — In  the  first  stage  of  this  disorder  the  skin 
is  hot  and  dry,  attended  with  intense  itching,  which  will 
manifest  itself  by  the  animal  rubbing  his  head  and  neck 
against  the  fence  or  stable  ;  the  next  stage  is  the  appear- 
ance of  scabs,  or  small  ulcers  on  the  surface  of  the  skin ; 
small  insects  (or  animalculae),  in  great  quantities,  can  be 
seen  with  a  glass,  which  are  the  cause  of  the  uneasiness 
of  the  animal. 


52  THE  Parmer's  guide. 

Remedy. — Let  the  beast  he  separated  from  all  others 
(as  this  disorder  is  contagious) ;  give  cooling,  opening 
medicines,  as  the  following :  take  2  oz.  cream  of  tartar, 
1  oz.  nitre,  4  drams  calomel,  and  i  pt.  molasses,  and 
give  in  3  equal  parts  w^ithin  24  hours.  Another :  take 
a  card  and  carefully  remove  any  loose  scurf,  then  give 
the  physic  prescribed  in  the  last  article  ;  after  this,  make 
an  ointment  of  A  pt.  olive-oil,  \  pt.  spirits  of  turpen- 
tine, i  lb.  sulphur,  i  lb.  hog's  lard,  and  rub  the  parts 
affected  every  other  day.  Another:  after  moderately 
purging,  take  -i  lb.  lard,  2  oz.  sulphur,  i  pt.  tar,  1  pt.  cas- 
tor or  linseed  oil,  make  into  an  ointment,  and  apply  to 
the  parts  affected. 

LOSS   OF  CUD. 

This  is  sometimes  occasioned  by  previous  disease, 
which  leaves  the  animal  debilitated,  or  by  indigestion  or 
sudden  injuries.  Where  there  is  but  little  fever,  give  a 
small  dose  of  salts  and  ginger,  or  take  i  pt.  gin  and  2  oz. 
ginger;  make  a  cud  of  boiled  clover,  or  take  a  cud  from 
another  beast  and  divide  it.  Afterward  make  a  decoc- 
tion of  oak  bark,  hoarhound,  and  balm,  and  give  for  one 
day  with  dry  food. 

TAIL  DISEASE. 

This  is  a  rotting  or  drying  up  of  the  end  of  the 
tail  in  young  cattle.  By  cutting  off  the  tail  just  above 
the  decayed  part  and  letting  it  bleed  freely,  or  by  slitting 
the  end  of  it,  the  disease  will  generally  be  removed. 

BLACK-LEG. 

This  malady  is  known  by  several  names,  such  as 
black-blood,  blood-striking,  and  blind-blood.  It  gener- 
ally attacks  young  cattle  that  are  kept  high,  or  it  is 
caused  by  a  sudden  change  from  poor  to  rich  food,  or 
eating  unwholesome  plants. 

Symptojns. — In  its  first  stages  the  eyes  are  red  and 
protruding,  with  high  fever,  wildness,  weakness  and 
staggering  of  the  hinder  parts,  starting  suddenly,  lying 
down  and  rising  again  quickly.  As  the  disease  advances, 
the  breath  is  short,  producing  heaving  of  the  flanks,  legs 


NEAT    CATTLE.  53 

swell,  ulcers  appear,  and  bloody  flux  sets  in,  which  soon 
destroys  life. 

Re77icdj/. — As  soon  as  the  disease  is  apparent,  house 
the  beast  in  a  cc^l  stable  and  bleed  2  quarts  ;  foment 
the  parts  affected  with  salt  and  vinegar;  take  ^  pt.  lin- 
seed or  castor  oil,  1  oz.  ginger,  1  dram  aloes,  and  give 
with  1  qt.  warm  water.  If  the  physic  should  not  oper- 
ate within  6  hours,  give  injections,  as  before  described. 
If  the  medicine  operates  properly,  then  give  cooling 
drinks  made  of  2  drams  saltpetre,  1  dram  tartar  emetic, 
1  oz.  cream  of  tartar.  As  the  animal  is  recovering,  give 
him  tea  made  of  flaxseed,  raspberry,  or  sweet-fern. 

Caution. — Never  bleed  except  in  the  first  stages  of  the 
complaint,  and  feed  on  bran  or  other  light  food  during 
the  continuance  of  the  disease.  Occasionally  rubbing  the 
limbs  that  have  been  affected,  with  a  mixture  of  salt,  vin- 
egar, and  mustard,  has  been  found  to  be  very  useful  in 
assisting  the  animal  to  regain  his  wonted  strength. 

OVER-HEATED   AND   O VER-\A»^ORKED. 

Oxen  are  often  overworked  in  warm  weather  by  in- 
trusting them  to  the  care  of  inexperienced  persons.  The 
injury  thus  received  is  greater  than  is  generally  sup- 
posed, as  it  is  difficult  ever  to  restore  the  animal  to  his 
original  strength  and  value. 

Caution. — Never  let  the  animal  have  access  to  cold 
water  until  he  is  perfectly  cool. 

Remedy. — Give  at  once  to  each  ox  from  IJ  pints  to 
1  quart  (according  to  the  size  of  the  animal)  of  St.  Croix 
rum,  or  the  same  quantity  of  gin,  New-England  rum,  or 
whiskey,  or  a  little  less  quantity  of  French  brandy,  fol- 
lowed by  2  quarts  warm  water,  in  the  meantime  driving 
the  animal  around  the  yard  moderately,  for  a  short  time, 
when  he  will  generally  be  out  of  danger.  A  mild  potion 
of  physic  ought  to  be  given  soon  after.  Another:  if 
ardent  spirits  are  not  at  hand,  take  1  oz.  cayenne  or 
black  pepper,  1  oz.  ginger,  and  \  pt.  molasses  ;  mix  with 
1  qt.  warm  water,  and  give,  keeping  the  beast  moder- 
ately moving.  Where  oxen  have  been  over-drawn  with- 
out heating,  to  3  oz.castile  soap  dissolved  in  warm  water 
add  i  oz.  ginger  and  I  qt.  nev/  milk,  and  give  at  one  dose 
5 


54  THE  farmer's  guide. 

RUPTURE,  BREACH, OR   HERNIA. 

This  is  occasioned  by  some  external  injury,  by  which 
the  intestines  protrude  through  the  hning  of  the  abdo- 
men, although  the  skin  may  not  be  broken. 

Treatment. — The  animal  must  be  cast,  and  the  feet 
confined  ;  then  cut  the  skin  somewhat  larger  than  th© 
rupture,  taking  care  that  the  protruding  intestines  are 
not  injured ;  return  the  intestines  thus  extending,  care- 
fully sewing  the  inner  rupture ;  after  which  sew  up  th» 
outer  skin,  and  take  salve  of  mutton  tallow  and  beeswax 
and  apply  a  little  to  the  wound.  If  the  iujury  be  se- 
vere, draw  a  bandage  close  round  the  animal,  and  let  it 
remain  four  or  five  days  ;  or  apply  a  large  adhesive  plas- 
ter of  Burgundy  pitch  or  common  wax,  and  let  it  remain 
one  week. 

\A^ARTS. 

"Remedy. — Confine  the  animal,  lance  the  warts,  apply 
blue  vitriol  in  small  quantities,  and  bind  on  a  small  piece 
of  raw  fat  pork  for  two  days.  Another :  take  green  turnips 
or  carrots,  with  fine  salt,  and  apply  for  two  days.  An- 
other :  take  a  fine  silk  or  linen  cord,  and  tie  closely  round 
the  wart,  and  it  will  fall  off  in  three  or  four  days.  After- 
ward apply  strong  alum-water  occasionally  for  two  days. 
Another:  the  bark  of  the  common  willow  burnt  to  ashes, 
mixed  with  strong  vinegar,  and  applied  to  the  parts,  will 
usually  remove  all  warts  and  other  excrescences. 

WENS. 

"Remedy. — If  the  wen  is  troublesome  or  growing  rap- 
idly, cast  the  animal,  and  carefully  cut  it  out.  After  let- 
ting it  bleed  freely  (say  1  qt.),  take  a  mixture  of  fine  salt 
and  powdered  rosin,  in  equal  quantities,  mixed  with  a 
small  quantity  of  tar-water,  and  apply  to  the  wound,  then 
sew  up  the  skin,  taking  care  that  the  stitches  on  each 
side  are  set  opposite  each  other.  Wens  have  been  cured 
in  their  first  stages  by  applying  warm  brine  repeatedly. 

Another :  make  a  very  strong  brine,  dip  in  a  piece  of 
flannel  three  times  doubled,  and  apply  it  to  the  wen  j 
keep  it  constantly  wet,  day  and  night,  until  suppuration 
takes  place. 


NEAT    CATTLE.  55 

BRUISES  AND   SORES. 

Remedy, — Over  tlie  whole  sore  or  where  the  part  is 
bruised,  or  where  there  is  a  tendency  to  suppuration,  a 
poultice  should  be  applied,  and  kept  on  with  bandages. 
The  poultice  may  be  made  of  any  kind  of  meal,  fine 
bran,  bruised  flaxseed,  or  of  mustard,  turnips,  carrots, 
&c.  Another;  take  1  qt.  of  wheat  or  rye  bran,  pour  on 
a  sufficient  quantity  of  boiling  water  to  make  a  thin 
paste  ;  to  this  add  enough  of  flaxseed  powder  to  give  it 
a  proper  xonsistence.  This  poultice  may  be  kept  on  as 
long  as  required,  changing  it  twice  a  day.  After  removing 
the  poultice,  cleanse  the  wound  by  rinsing  it  with  luke- 
warm water  once  a  day  ;  after  this,  apply  some  mild 
ointment.     (See  next  article.) 

Ointment  for  Wounds,  Bi'uises,  and  Sores,  in  Cattle. — 
After  poulticing  (as  above  described),  and  the  bruise 
puts  on  a  healthy  or  reddish  color  (not  black  or  bloody), 
apply  an  ointment  made  of  tallow,  linseed  oil,  beeswax, 
and  lard,  proportioned  to  the  consistence  of  butter  ; 
spread  the  ointment  on  linen  cloth,  and  confine  it  to  the 
affected  part,  by  a  bandage  if  possible,  as  a  string  is  cal- 
culated to  injure  the  tender  flesh.  If  the  discharge  is 
not  great,  it  need  be  changed  only  once  a  day.  Anoth- 
er: take  4  oz.  castile  soap,  2  oz.  camphor,  1  pt.  alcohol 
or  brandy,  and  apply  twice  a  day  Another :  take  2  ta- 
blespoonfuls  fine  salt,  3  do.  of  linseed  oil,  1  pt.  molasses, 
1  oz.  copperas,  3  oz.  white  vitriol,  \  lb.  lard ;  melt  over 
a  slow  fire,  and  use  moderately.  Another  (this  is  well 
adapted  for  strains  as  well  as  swellings)  :  mix  1  pt.  vine- 
gar, 2  drams  sugar  of  lead,  1  oz.  laudanum,  1  lb.  lard, 
and  apply  twice  a  day. 

STROKE  OF  THE  WHIP    IN    THE   EYE. 

Remedy. — Make  a  weak  decoction  of  tobacco-leaves 
and  inject  into  the  eye.  Another  ;  if  the  eye  be  inflamed, 
take  -i-  oz.  sugar  of  lead,  1  dram  copperas,  20  drops  laud- 
anum, 1  pt.  water;  mix,  and  use  once  a  day  till  cured. 

CHAFE    IN    THE    EYE. 

Remedy. — Take  1  dram  white  copperas,  and  1  dram 
sugar  of  lead,  and  blow  through  a  quill  into  the  eye  of 
the  animal  j  do  not  repeat  it  under  three  days. 


56  THE  farmer's  guide. 

FILM   ON    THE    EYE. 

This  may  be  occasioned  by  some  injury  not  noticed  ' 
at  the  time,  producing  partial  blindness,     A  film  can  be 
prevented,  taken  in  season,  by  applying  coarse  brown  su- 
gar, dissolved  in  water,  to  the  eye  three  or  four  times; 
molasses,  also,  is  sometimes  used. 

Remedij. — Make  a  weak  decoction  of  tobacco-leaves, 
adding  molasses,  and  apply  several  times  to  the  eye. 

WEAK   AND    INFLAMED    EYES.  .^ 

This  complaint  results  from  the  animal  taking  cold; 
and  from  various  other  causes.      Wash  them  with   a  tea 
made  of  raspberry-leaves  and  sassafras  bark,  adding  a 
small  quantity  of  castile  soap.     Apply  it  cold. 
HIDE-BOUND. 

Si/mptom's. — The  animal's  hide  is  stiff,  and  adheres  to 
the  flesh.  It  becomes  poor,  walks  stiff  in  its  limbs,  its 
eyes  look  dull,  and  it  loses  its  appetite. 

Kennedy. — Take  2  oz.  allspice,  2  oz.  ginger,  2  oz. 
mustard,  1  pt.  molasses ;  mix  with  2  qts.  warm  water, 
and  give  in  2  doses,  night  and  morning,  after  the  beast 
has  fasted  for  4  hours.  Another:  take  4  oz.  hoarhound, 
4  oz.  spearmint,  1  oz.  rue;  boil  10  minutes  in  3  qts.  of 
water,  and  give  1  qt.  at  a  dose,  at  intervals  of  6  hours 
each,  and  repeat,  if  necessary,  weekly.  Another:  take 
balm,  rue,  saffron,  and  horse-radish,  in  equal  parts,  and 
make  a  strong  tea,  and  give  1  qt.  daily. 
FEEDING    OXEN. 

"Working  oxen  ought  to  be  fed  regularly,  and  worked 
uniformly.  Have  the  yoke  of  sufficient  length,  and  the 
bows  to  fit.  Oxen  that  are  worked  constantly  ought  to 
have  at  least  2  quarts  of  meal  each  day,  and  be  salted 
often. 

SHOEING    OXEN. 

Oxen  that  are  worked  on  a  farm,  will  not  need  shoe- 
ing in  summer  unless  they  are  very  large,  or  unless  the 
farm  is  very  rocky  ;  but  those  that  are  used  for  travel- 
ling on  hard  or  gravelly  roads,  ought  always  to  be  shod 
with  broad  shoes,  extending  three  eighths  of  an  inch  back 
of  the  heel  on  the  fore-foot.  Care  should  be  taken  that 
the  ox  is  not  strained  while  shoeingr. 


NEAT    CATTLE.  57 

SORE   NECKS   IN    OXEN. 

This  is  caused  by  using  yokes  that  do  not  fit  the  neck, 
or  by  working  the  oxen  in  wet  weather.  It  can  be  pre- 
vented by  using  good  yokes  and  applying  oil  or  lard  to 
the  neck  in  stormy  weather. 

Remedy. — Use  ointment  made  of  lard  and  beeswax  ; 
or  make  a  strong  wash  of  white-oak  bark,  and  apply  it 
•'^ght  and  morning. 

^  CURRYING   CATITLE. 

More  advantage  results  to  cattle  from  currying  and 
carding  than  is  generally  supposed,  especially  to  work- 
ing oxen.  It  not  only  produces  a  healthy  state  of  the 
skin,  by  keeping  the  pores  open,  but  it  adds  greatly  to 
the  appearance  and  activity  of  the  beast. 
LOCKED  JANA/. 

This  is  caused  by  running  a  nail  into  the  foot,  or  by 
other  injury  to  the  nerves,  or  by  a  sudden  chilling  of  the 
blood  after  being  over-heated. 

Symptoms. — Attempting  to  eat,  trembling,  head  raised 
and  moving  from  side  to  side,  no  disposition  to  ruminate. 

Remedy. — Dash  a  large  quantity  of  cold  water  over 
the  animal,  repeating  every  4  hours,  keeping  the  beast 
moving  about.  Another :  bleed  very  freely,  and  follow 
by  a  moderate  dose  of  physic.  Another :  apply  castile 
soap  and  opium,  warm,  to  the  wound  that  causes  the  dif- 
ficulty, and  cast  8  or  10  pails  of  water  over  the  animal, 
after  which  bind  on  several  blankets,  and  give  warm 
drinks. 

STINGS   OF    HORNETS  AND    BEES. 

Remedy. — Dissolve  salt  in  vinegar,  and  bathe  for  15 
minutes. 

BITE   OF   POISONOUS   SNAKES. 

Remedy. — Cleanse  the  wound  thoroughly  with  strong 
soap-suds,  then  apply  a  mixture  composed  of  1^  oz.  harts- 
horn and  1  oz.  olive-oil,  every  4  hours  for  1  day ;  at  the 
same  time  administer  a  large  dose  of  physic. 

ULCERS. 

It  is  difficult  to  distinguish  between  ulcers  and  other 
swellings,  until  they  break  or  are  opened.    It  is  better  to 


58  THE  farmer's  guide. 

let  an  ulcei'  break  of  itself,  after  which  take  castile  soap- 
suds, warm,   and   cleanse  it   carefully   and   thoroughly 
poultice  for  one  day  with  boiled  turnips  or  carrots  ;  then 
use  a  wash  made  of  1  oz.  spirit  of  turpentine,  2  oz.  cam- 
phor, 2  oz.  hartshorn,  and  2  oz.  vinegar,  well  mixed. 
TREATMENT  OF  CONA/'S. 

A  cow  may  have  her  first  calf  at  about  three  years  old, 
and  should  be  dried  up  8  or  10  weeks  before  calving, 
when  the  amount  of  nourishment  should  be  lessened,  es- 
pecially of  potatoes  and  other  gi-een  food,  which  is  calcu- 
lated to  induce  milk  to  collect  largely,  producing  a  swel- 
ling or  caking  of  the  bag. 

MILKING    COWS    BEFORE    CALVING. 

This  sometimes  becomes  necessary  from  the  high  feed 
ing  of  the  cow.     If  the  bag  becomes  distended  and  hard, 
it  will  require  to  be  milked  once  a  day,  but  never  draw 
out  more  than  half  the  milk  at  any  one  time. 

MANAGEMENT   OF   COWS    AT  CALVING. 

As  the  time  of  calving  approaches,  it  will  be  necessary 
to  watch  her,  as  she  will  stray  away  as  far  as  possible. 
Turn  her  loose  into  a  roomy  stable  or  enclosure,  by  her- 
self, and  let  her  not  be  disturbed,  and  she  will  generally 
get  along  without  assistance. 
TREATMENT  OF  CO\A/S  AFTER  CALVING. 

If  the  cow  has  been  high-fed,  a  small  dose  of  physic 
can  be  given.  Feed  on  bran  or  light  food  for  2  or  3 
days,  and  give  warm  drinks  for  a  short  time.  When  a 
cow  becomes  so  weak  that  she  can  not  rise,  she  ought  to 
be  assisted  for  a  few  times  ;  and  if  a  sacking  can  be 
placed  under  her,  and  fastened  to  the  sides  of  the  stall, 
and  remain  for  2  or  3  hours,  it  will  greatly  assist  her. 
Cattle-doctors  are  not  at  all  agreed  whether  it  injures  the 
cow  to  eat  the  cleanings. 

TREATMENT  OF  COWS  THAT  NA^ILL   NOT 
ONA^N    THEIR   CALVES. 

Let  the  cow  remain  for  12  hours  without  being  milked, 
then  milk  her  say  one  half  dry,  and  it  will  relieve  her  so 
much  that  if  the  calf  is  put  to  her  a  few  times  it  will 
effect  the  desired  result. 


NEAT    CATTLE.  59 

MILK   FEVER. 

The  milk  fever  is  a  very  common  complaint  with  cows 
at  the  time  of  calving,  especially  with  those  that  have 
been  well  kept.  Although  this  is  not  immediately  dan- 
gerous, yet  it  requires  attention.  It  usually  makes  its 
appearance  within  three  days  after  calving. 

Symptoms. — Swelled  and  inflamed  udder,  failure  of 
appetite,  wildness  of  the  eyes,  mouth  dry  and  feverish, 
general  debility,  restlessness,  and  skin  dry  and.  hot. 

Remedy. — If  the  cow  is  in  high  flesh,  take  away  4  qts, 
of  blood,  and  in  4  hours  give  J  lb.  Epsom  salts  and  1  oz. 
sulphur;  if  this  does  not  operate  within  12  hours,  give 
half  the  above  dose.  Another  :  bleed  3  quails,  and  give 
^  lb.  Epsom  salts,  with  -^  pt.  linseed  oil. 
SORE  TEATS. 

Remedy. — Bathe  the  teats  with  weak  soap-suds,  then 
apply  cream,  new  milk,  or  goose-oil,  night  and  morning. 
Another :  bathe  with  warm  water,  and  take  equal  parts 
of  beeswax  and  lard,  or  fresh  butter,  and  anoint  the 
parts.  Another  :  If  the  complaint  is  very  severe,  bathe 
with  tea  made  of  white-beach  bark,  barberry-bark,  and 
alum-water,  after  which  apply  fresh  butter. 
GARGET. 

This  is  a  disease  confined  to  the  bag  or  udder,  pro- 
ducing inflammation  which,  if  not  soon  counteracted, 
renders  the  bag  tender,  with  large  bunches  rising  on  the 
sides.  This  is  oftener  found  in  young  than  in  old  cows, 
and  it  is  generally  the  result  of  high-keeping,  taking 
cold,  or  an  impure  state  of  the  blood. 

Remedy. — Bleed  freely,  and  give  |-  lb.  Epsom  salts 
with  1  gill  linseed  oil,  followed  with  warm  drinks,  after 
which  take  \  lb.  cream  of  tartar,  dissolved  in  water,  and 
apply  with  a  linen  cloth  to  the  udder.  Another :  after 
bleeding  and  physicking  as  above,  take  scoke-root  or 
pokeweed-root,  boil  15  minutes,  and  apply  to  the  udder 
nearly  cold.  Another :  take  1  oz.  saltpetre,  1  oz.  tobac- 
co, boil  10  minutes,  and  apply  to  the  udder. 
CAKED    BAG. 

This  is  caused  by  the  cow  taking  cold  or  going  too 
long  without  being  milked,  and  by  other  causes. 


60  THE    FARMER  S    GUIDE. 

Remedy. — Take  2  qts.  horse-radish,  cut  fine,  and  add 
■1  lb.  ginger;  feed  1  pt.  each  day,  with  bran,  meal,  or  po- 
tatoes. Another:  take  ^  lb.  of  the  root  of  the  bitter- 
sweet herb,  add  \  lb.  fresh  butter  or  lard  ;  boil  15  min- 
utes, make  a  salve,  anoint  the  bag  morning  and  evening, 
keeping  the  animal  warm. 

KICKING    COW. 

Put  the  cow  in  a  uaiTOw  stable,,  confine  her  head  as 
high  as  can  conveniently  be  done,  and  in  this  position 
milk  her  a  few  times.  After  this,  choose  some  place  in 
the  yard  where  you  wish  always  to  milk  her,  and  she 
will  soon  become  quiet  while  milking. 

00\NS    HOLDING    UP  THEIR   MILK. 

The  only  remedy  found  for  cows  holding  up  their 
milk,  is  by  continuing  to  milk  for  a  long  time ;  the  cow 
will  soon  become  weary  and  give  her  milk  as  usual. 

TO  PREVENT  A  COW  FROM  SUCKING 
HERSELF. 

Take  soot  and  aloes,  or  a  wash  of  aloes  alone,  and  ap- 
ply it  to  the  teats  night  and  morning  (after  milking)  for 
a  few  days. 

GONADS    DRYING    UP   SUDDENLY. 

This  may  be  caused  by  taking  a  sudden  cold,  obstruct- 
ing the  urinary  organs. 

Remedy. — Take  -J  oz.  cream  of  tartar,  i  oz.  saltpetre, 
and  give  blood-warm  ;  feed  for  a  few  days  with  pump- 
kins, carrots,  green  conistalks,  or  other  succulent  vege- 
tables. 

MILKING. 

It  is  of  much  importance  that  milking  should  be  done 
regularly,  quickly,  and,  if  possible,  by  the  same  hand. 
Too  much  care  can  not  be  taken  that  the  cow  be  milked 
clean  ;  if  this  is  not  done,  the  quantity  becomes  less,  and 
she  will  soon  be  diied  up.  Frequently  cows  are  milked 
early  in  the  morning  and  late  at  night,  which  is  very  in- 
jurious, especially  in  the  Ir  ngest  days  of  summer,  though 
in  the  heat  of  summer  they  ought  to  be  milked  suffi- 
ciently early  in  the  morning  to  enable  them  to  fill  them- 
selves before  the  extreme  heat  of  the  day  commencofl ; 


N£Af    CATTtfi.  61 

and  tliey  require  milking  by  six  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
when  that  is  the  case. 

CREAM. 

If  milk  is  heated  to  nearly  the  boilinsf  point,  immedi- 
ately after  it  comes  ft-om  the  cow,  and  put  in  a  cool 
place,  the  cream  will  soon  rise.  In  the  summer  it  ought 
to  be  churaed  every  morning.  Many  dairymen  let  the 
cream  sour  before  churning ;  when  this  is  done,  care 
should  be  taken  that  it  does  not  remain  in  that  state  too 
long.  The  operation  of  churning  ought  to  be  done  in 
the  shortest  possible  time. 

CHURNING  THE  NA^HOLE   MILK. 

This  is  done  in  some  countries  with  profit ;  it  yields  a 
larger  quantity  of  butter,  which  is  said  to  be  of  better 
quality  and  will  keep  longer;  it  is,  however,  not  much 
practised  in  this  country.  It  requires  machinery  to  per- 
form the  churning  with  advantage. 

CHEESE. 

Perhaps  in  no  production  of  the  farm  is  there  so  great 
a  difference  in  its  quality  as  in  that  of  cheese.  This  is 
owino-  to  the  variety  of  cows,  quality  of  the  milk,  quan- 
tity and  quality  of  the  rennet  used,  pressing,  &c.  It  is 
needless  here  to  say  that  cleanliness  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary in  everything  connected  with  the  dairy.  If  the 
richest  kind  of  cheese  is  desired,  do  not  skim  the  milk  at 
all ;  but  cheese  of  a  sufficient  richness  can  be  made  from 
milk  half  of  which  has  been  skimmed. 

RENNET. 

Rennet  is  made  from  the  stomach  of  the  calf,  and  is 
prepared  by  partly  filling  it  with  coarse  salt,  rolling  it  up 
for  a  few  days,  and  then  opening  and  exposing  it  to  the 
sun  or  to  a  fire  to  dry ;  or  by  putting  it  into  salt  and  wa- 
ter for  four  days,  and  then  sprinkling  it  with  fine  salt, 
and  drying  it  as  before.  When  the  rennet  is  wanted  for 
use,  cut  off  a  piece  according  to  the  quantity  of  milk  to 
be  used,  put  it  into  a  small  quantity  of  lukewarm  water, 
adding  a  little  salt,  and  it  will  be  ready  for  use  in  eight 
hours. 


62  THE  farmer's  guide. 

DRYING    UP   A  COW. 

Bleed  freely,  and  take  half  of  the  milk  out  of  the  bag 
once  a  day,  for  3  or  4  days,  then  give  2  oz.  alum  and  2 
oz.  rochealum  in  lukewarm  water.  Or,  take  one  half  of 
the  stomach  of  a  fresh-killed  calf,  put  it  into  3  qts.  water, 
boil  i  an  hour,  add  1  oz.  alum  and  i  oz.  ginger,  and  give 
at  one  dose.  Or,  take  3  oz.  green  sage  (or  J  oz.  dry), 
boil  10  minutes,  add  1  gill  fresh  milk  arid  1  oz.  powdered 
alum;  let  it  stand  until  nearly  cold,  then  bathe  the  bag 
night  and  morning.  If  the  bag  is  greatly  distended, 
draw  away  a  small  quantity  of  milk  every  morning. 

-TREATMENT  OF  CALVES. 

As  soon  as  they  are  able  to  stand,  they  should  be  left 
to  follow  the  instincts  which  nature  has  implanted  in 
them.  It  is  the  most  natural  and  economical,  as  well  as 
the  least  troublesome  way  to  rear  a  calf,  to  let  it  run  with 
the  cow  until  it  is  old  enough  to  wean.  A  good  cow  will 
thus  rear  two  calves,  provided  they  are  all  permitted  to 
range  in -a  fresh  pasture  or  clover-field.  If  the  calf  is 
destined  for  the  market,  he  ought  to  have  all  the  milk 
of  one  cow,  and  if  he  craves  more,  milk-porridge  or 
thickened  milk  can  be  given  him.  He  ought  to  be  kept 
until  he  is  seven  or  eight  weeks  old. 

Many  farmers  dislike  to  have  the  calf  run  with  the 
cow  ;  in  that  case  the  calf  ought  to  remain  with  the 
mother  long  enough  to  learn  how  to  draw  the  milk, 
which  he  will  generally  do  in  two  days,  when  he  can  be 
kept  so  far  from  the  cow  that  they  can  not  hear  each 
other's  call.  Take  fresh  warm  milk,  apply  the  finger  to 
the  mouth,  and  gently  lead  him  to  the  vessel  containing 
the  milk,  and  he  will  very  soon  learn  to  help  himself. 
The  milk  of  the  cow,  for  the  first  three  days,  except  what 
is  given  to  the  calf,  is  only  fit  for  swine.  If  the  new  milk 
is  valuable,  it  will  answer  to  gradually  lessen  the  quan- 
tity, and  add  skim-milk  scalded  and  thickened  with  corn 
or  oat  meal,  with  a  little  salt. 

If  calves  are  troubled  with  lice,  turn  them  among  the 
sheep  for  a  few  days,  and  they  will  disappear.  Calves 
require  a  dry,  warm  shelter,  a  good  bed,  and  to  be  fed 
three  times  a  day.     Their  food  should  occasionally  bo 


THE    SHEEP.  63 

changed.  If  they  are  allowed  fresh  clover,  it  will  at  first 
produce  the  scours,  and  they  ought  to  be  removed  fre- 
quently to  less  luxuriant  pasture.  For  the  first  winter 
they  will  need  much  attention  ;  they  should  be  kept  sep- 
arate from  other  cattle,  and  furnished  with  small  quanti- 
ties of  chopped  potatoes  or  turnips  each  day  in  addition 
to  sweet  tender  hay  and  rowen, 

SCOURS    IN    CALVES. 

This  is  a  common  complaint  with  calves,  especially 
when  separated  from  the  cow,  or  brought  up  by  hand. 
If  the  attack  is  slight,  it  will  not  be  attended  with  any 
injury. 

Remedy. — Take  1  oz.  laudanum,  2  oz.  powdered  chalk, 
and  1  pt,  water,  and  give  a  gill  (lukewarm)  4  times  a  day. 
Another:  take  1  teaspoonful  of  powdered  chalk,  and  the 
same  quantity  of  allspice,  with  a  teacupful  of  hot  water, 
and  give  every  12  hours.  Another  :  take  1  fresh  eg^  and 
beat  it  up,  add  1-4  oz.  laudanum  and  1  gill  water,  and 
give  at  one  dose. 

HOOSE   IN   CALVES. 

This  Is  occasioned  by  taking  cold,  exposure  to  storms, 
or  sudden  changes  of  the  atmosphere,  which  produce  a 
cough  and  difficulty  of  breathing. 

Remedy. — Take  1  pt.  cider-vinegar,  2  oz.  aloes,  2  oz. 
linseed  oil ;  dissolve,  and  inject  a  teaspoonful  into  each 
nostril  every  other  morning.  Another :  take  2  oz.  asa- 
fcetida,  1  pt.  vinegar,  3  oz.  hartshorn;  mix,  and  pour  a 
teaspoonful  into  each  nostril  every  other  morning  until 
relief  be  obtained. 


THE   SHEEP. 

From  the  earliest  ages  sheep  have  been  classed  among 
the  most  valuable  of  domestic  animals.  Previous  to  the 
deluge  they  were  offered  in  sacrifice,  and  since  that  pe- 
riod their  flesh  has  been  used  for  food  and  their  wool  for 
clothing,  in  all  quarters  of  the  world.  The  limits  of  this 
work  preclude  a  particular  description  of  the  numeroua 


64 


THE    farmer's    guide. 


species  of  tins  animal.  The  stock  originally  raised  in 
this  country  was  derived  from  Great  Britain  ;  this  has 
generally  given  place  to  the  Merino,  the  first  importation 
of  which  was  made  by  the  American  minister  at  the  court 
of  Versailles,  Chancellor  Livingston,  in  1802.  Since 
that  period  Merinos  have  been  bred  of  either  pure  or 
mixed  blood,  in  almost  every  sheep-growing  county  in 
the  United  States  and  the  Canadas.  The  Saxon  sheep 
were  introduced  into  this  country  in  1S24,  and  are  now 
to  be  found  in  various  sections  of  the  Union. 
MANAGEMENT  OF  SHEEP  DURING  THE 
SPRING. 
As  soon  as  the  mild  weather  of  spring  appears,  and 
long  before  all  the  snow  has  disappeared,  sheep  exhibit 
an  inclination  to  leave  their  long  confinement  and  seek 
their  food  in  the  meadow  or  pasture.  It  is  well,  how- 
ever, to  keep  tliem  confined  until  the  snow  has  mostly 
disappeared,  and  'che  ground  becomes  nearly  dry.  Sheep 
at  this  season  should  be  yarded  where  they  can  have 
access  to  the  ground  in  the  daytime,  and  be  fed  occasion- 
ally with  potatoes  and  turnips. 


THE    SHEEP.  "  65 

MANAGEMENT  OF  SHEEP   IN    SUMMER. 

Sheep  require  pastures  that  are  diy.  They  thrive 
best  on  high  table-land  or  mountain  ridges,  abounding  in 
bitter  plants  and  aromatic  herbs.  A  trough  fastened  to  the 
ground,  and  containing  salt,  ought  always  to  be  accessible 
to  them.  As  sheep  roam  over  a  large  space  of  ground, 
it  is  well  to  divide  their  pasture  into  small  portions,  re- 
moving them  often  from  one  to  another.  The  flock  will 
require  to  be  examined  several  times  each  week,  in  or- 
der that  the  diseased  ones,  if  any  are  found,  may  be  at 
once  removed,  to  prevent  others  taking  the  malady.  Du- 
ring the  extreme  heat  of  summer  it  is  important  to  the 
health  of  the  sheep  to  keep  them  in  fields  that  contain 
plenty  of  shade-trees  and  running  water.  The  husband- 
man will  be  well  repaid  by  giving  white  beans  to  his 
flock  as  often  as  once  a  week.  By  the  middle  of  sum- 
mer select  the  sheep  designed  for  market,  always  pre- 
serving the  best  ones  for  breeding  ;  and  they  should  be 
early  separated  from  their  lambs,  to  enable  them  to  I'e- 
gain  their  usual  flesh  before  the  commencement  of  win- 
ter. It  will  be  necessary  to  give  a  small  quantity  of 
potatoes,  meal,  or  grain,  to  those  preparing  for  market. 

MANAGEMENT  OF  SHEEP  DURING 
AUTUMN. 

In  the  early  part  of  autumn  sheep  are  subject  to  sev- 
eral complaints,  some  of  which  may  be  averted  by  putting 
tar  in  their  salt-troughs,  or  applying  it  with  a  brush  to 
their  noses.  At  this  season  all  the  very  fat  ones  should 
be  taken  to  market,  as  it  is  doubtful  whether  they  can 
ever  again  acquire  so  much  flesh.  Sheep  require  hou- 
sing when  the  frosty  nights  commence,  and  should  be 
permanently  taken  from  the  pastures  before  they  begin 
to  lose  flesli  by  the  scarcity  of  food  and  the  severity  of 
the  weather. 

MANAGEMENT    OF    SHEEP    DURING 
NAf'INTER. 

Before  the  extreme    cold  weather    commences,  they 
should  be  brought  into  winter-quarters,  and  the  young 
and  feeble  be  separated  from  the  strong  and  healthy, 
6 


66  THE  Parmer's  guide 

and  the  diseased  be  so  far  remored  from  the  othsrs  that 
the  disease  be  not  communicated  to  the  flock.  Long 
experience  has  proved  that  sheep  require,  in  the  winter, 
dry  yards,  pure  water,  room  to  exercise,  access  to  the 
ground,  regular  time  for  feeding,  and  frequent  change 
of  food. 

FEEDING   SHEEP   IN    WINTER. 

No  other  animal  requires  so  much  attention  to  its  food 
during  winter  as  the  sheep.  When  first  brought  in  for 
the  winter,  they  are  usually  confined  in  so  small  a  space, 
and  in  such  numbers,  that  the  air  becomes  impure,  and 
will  soo-n  produce  disease.  It  will  be  a  great  preventive 
of  disease  to  besmear  their  noses  with  tar  as  often  as  once 
in  two  weeks  during  the  winter.  Although  no  better 
food  for  sheep  exists  than  ripe  well-cured  timothy  hay 
and  clover,  yet  an  occasional  change  to  rowen  and  other 
kinds  of  hay,  for  a  day  or  two,  will  be  found  of  essential 
benefit.  They  will  thrive  on  oat,  bean,  or  pea  straw, 
provided  it  be  cured  green,  and  they  have  a  supply  of  po- 
tatoes, turnips,  and  carrots,  at  the  same  time.  Much 
grain  does  not  agree  with  sheep  ;  it  is  too  solid  ;  yet  they 
eat  much  less  hay,  and  thrive  much  faster,  by  giving  each 
one  gill  of  peas  or  beans,  or  half  a  pint  of  oats  per  day. 
This  keeps  them  in  good  heart,  and  is  calculated  to  pre- 
vent them  shedding  their  wool.  Sheep  suffer  much  du- 
ring the  winter  by  being  deprived  of  green  food,  and 
not  having  access  to  the  ground.  If  possible,  let  them 
have  a  few  feet  of  turf,  loam,  or  gravel ;  should  this  be- 
come frozen,  break  it  up  occasionally  with  a  crow-bar  or 
axe.  Feed  them  once  a  week,  or  oftener,  with  potatoes, 
turnijDS,  beets,  parsnips,  or  carrots,  and  a  few  green 
boughs  of  the  hemlock,  pine,  cedar,  or  spruce,  or  of  the 
sweet-fern  herb.  Separate  troughs,  with  salt,  wood- 
ashes,  tar,  sulphur,  and  clay,  ought  always  to  be  within 
their  reach.  While  it  is  true  that  sheep  at  large  in  the 
summer  and  autumn  will  make  the  heavy  dews  a  substi- 
tute for  water,  yet  during  their  long  winter  confinement, 
when  nearly  all  their  food  is  dry,  they  will  need  water 
several  times  a  dav. 


THE    SHEEP.  67 

MANAGEMENT  OF    SHEEP  AT  YEANING- 
TIME. 

For  six  weeks  before  yeaning-tlme,  the  ewe  should  be 
deprived  of  most  of  her  accustomed  supply  of  potatoes, 
&c.,  as  these  are  calculated  to  produce  an  over-supply 
of  milk,  which  may  seriously  injure  her  ;  at  the  time 
of  yeaning-,  however,  should  a  small  quantity  be  given 
her,  it  will  tend  to  strengthen  her.  Sheep  turned  into 
the  field  at  such  a  time,  generally  need  no  assistance,  yet 
they  ought  to  be  looked  after  night  and  morning,  and,  if 
possible,  kept  separate  from  the  flock  during  the  night, 
or  kept  only  with  others  in  like  condition.  If  yeaning- 
time  comes  while  the  nights  are  cold  and  frosty,  the  ewes 
should  be  warmly  housed. 

MANAGEMENT  OF   LAMBS. 

Lambs,  for  a  few  days  fi'om  their  birth,  are  very  fee- 
ble, and  require  particular  attention.  It  frequently  hap- 
pens that  young  sheep  will  not  own  their  lambs  ;  and 
where  there  is  a  large  flock  the  lambs  frequently  get 
changed.  In  either  of  the  above  cases,  it  is  necessary 
to  hold  the  sheep  until  the  lamb  has  drawn  the  milk 
a  few  times ;  first,  however,  uncapping  the  teat,  and  ta- 
king away  a  small  quantity  of  milk.  It  sometimes  hap- 
pens that  the  lamb  is  too  weak  to  stand  ;  it  then  becomes 
necessary  to  lay  the  sheep  down  and  put  the  lamb  to  the 
teat ;  and  if,  from  ignorance,  the  lamb  should  refuse  to 
draw  the  milk,  the  teat  must  be  put  in  its  mouth,  and  the 
difficulty  will  soon  be  obviated.  Should  there  be  an  abun- 
dance of  wool  on  the  sheep's  bag,  calculated  to  prevent 
the  lamb  having  free  access  to  the  teats,  it  may  be 
sheared  off*.  In  cold  weather  it  frequently  happens  that 
lambs  are  dropped  in  the  field  or  yard,  and  are  found 
cold  and  stiff,  and  apparently  beyond  resuscitation  ;  their 
lives  can,  however,  often  be  preserved  by  conveying 
them  to  a  moderately  warm  room,  enveloping  them  in 
woollen  cloths,  and  giving  them  warm  new  milk.  In 
case  sheep  produce  twins,  the  ewe  may  not  aff'ord  a  suf- 
ficient supply  of  milk  for  both.  One  of  the  lambs  can 
easily  be  brought  up  by  hand,  or  the  sheep  can  be  fed 
liberally  with  potatoes  or  turnips  to  increase  the  quantity 


68  THE    farmer's    GUlOEi 

of  her  milk.  Sometimes  lambs  appear  pining  and  swol* 
len  without  the  cause  being  discovered.  This  is  fre- 
quently caused  by  the  excrements  adhering  to  the  body 
and  closing  the  vent.  It  can  be  prevented  by  rubbing 
the  parts  with  clay  or  red  earth. 

NA^EANING. 

If  lambs  are  left  to  run  with  their  dam.s  to  a  late  pe- 
riod in  the  fall,  it  not  only  greatly  injures  the  sheep,  by 
preventing  their  recruiting  sufficiently  before  the  winter 
commences,  but  the  lambs  do  not  get  accustomed  to  dry 
food  before  cold  weather  sets  in,  and  thus  both  sheep 
and  lambs  are  unfitted  for  the  rigors  of  winter.  At  this 
season  the  sheep  should  be  turned  into  a  poor  pasture 
for  a  few  days,  while  the  lamb  should  have  fresh  rowen 
or  clover-hay.  After  the  ewe  has  been  poorly  fed  for 
three  weeks,  it  should  then  have  good  fare  for  the  remain- 
der of  the  season;  for  if  winter  overtakes  her  in  low 
flesh  she  will  remain  so  until  spring.  Lambs  preparing 
for  market  should  have  good  feed,  and  remain  with  their 
dams  as  long  as  the  welfare  of  the  sheep  will  allow. 

CASTRATION    OF    LAMBS. 

This  ought  to  be  attended  to  when  they  are  not  over 
four  or  five  weeks  old,  for  the  longer  it  is  neglected  after 
that  age,  the  more  hazardous  it  becomes.  When  catch- 
ing the  lambs  they  should  not  be  worried,  as  in  that  C3.se 
their  blood  becomes  heated,  and  it  is  dangerous  to  per- 
form the  operation.  It  is  customary  with  many  to  apply 
salt  to  the  wound,  but  tar  mixed  with  lard  or  fresh  but- 
ter has  been  found  to  be  far  more  safe.  THe  lambs  are 
liable  to  take  cold  while  the  wound  is  healing  if  they  are 
exposed  to  storms  or  severe  cold  nights. 

NA^ASHING   SHEEP. 

This  should  never  be  performed  until  the  weather  is 
moderately  warm,  as  they  are  liable  to  contract  a  cold 
which  will  lead  to  other  diseases,  if  performed  in  cool 
weather.  As  a  general  rule  it  can  be  attended  to  from 
the  20lh  of  May  till  the  10th  of  June,  always  selecting  a 
warm  day  and  attending  to  it  in  the  morning,  that  the 
fleece  may  become  dry  the  same  day. 


THE    SHEEP.  69 

SHEARING. 

This  operation  requires  some  experience  to  perform  It 
skilfully.  Care  should  be  taken  to  separate  all  the  tags 
before  rolling  up  the  fleece.  Should  wounds  be  made, 
apply  a  mixture  of  tar  and  grease  before  turning  them 
out.  The  branding  and  marking  operation  should  be 
attended  to  at  this  time.  For  four  or  five  weeks  after 
shearing  they  require  a  shelter  during  cold  storms.  For 
want  of  this  protection  many  perish  during  the  month  of 
June. 

'TO  PREVENT  SHEEP  FROM  TAKING 
COLD  AFTER  SHEARING. 

Sheep  are  sometimes  unavoidably  exposed  to  cold 
winds  and  storms  after  shearing.  To  enable  them  to  en- 
dure this  exposure,  wash  them  Immediately  with  a  brine 
made  of  1  qt.  of  salt  and  1  pailful  of  water,  applied  with  a 
brush.  This  simple  operation  will  not  only  enable  them 
to  withstand  the  weather,  but  it  will  destroy  any  nits  that 
may  adhere  to  them. 

TO    LEARN    THE  AGE  OF  SHEEP. 

Their  age  can  be  ascertained  from  the  front  teeth.  At 
one  year  old  there  are  eight  feill  teeth  ;  at  two  years,  the 
two  middle  ones  fall  out,  and  two  much  larger  ones  ap- 
pear in  their  place  ;  at  three  years,  one  on  each  side  of 
these  last  named  likewise  fall  out,  whose  places  are  filled 
with  two  larger  ones  ;  at  four  years,  two  more  fall  out, 
which  are  supplied  by  others  ;  and  at  five  years,  all  the 
small  teeth  are  gone,  and  the  full  set  of  large  ones  ap- 
pear. After  this,  the  exact  age  can  not  be  known,  but  It 
can  be  nearly  determined  by  the  wear  and  long  appear- 
ance of  the  teeth. 

RACKS,  MANGERS,   FEEDING-TROUGHS. 

Too  much  attention  can  not  be  given  to  these  indis- 
pensable appendages  of  the  barnyard.  If  the  hay  is  suf- 
fered to  be  placed  on  the  ground,  the  ripe  seeds  and 
small  particles  will  not  be  saved,  and  when  the  yard  is 
wet,  or  the  ground  covered  with  snow,  much  of  the  hay 
will  be  trodden  under  foot  and  lost.  Racks  are  usually 
preferred  to  mangers,  but  when  these  are  used,  troughs 


70  THE  farmer's  guide. 

made  of  boards  ought  to  be  placed  at  tbo  bottom  to  catch 
the  seeds,  leaves,  and  fine  hay,  that  otherwise  would  be 
lost.  Troughs  can  be  made  veiy  cheap  of  boards,  and 
secured  by  stakes  driven  into  the  earth,  so  that  they  will 
rise  from  eight  to  twelve  inches  above  the  surface  of  the 
ground.  In  these  ought  to  be  kept  a  supply  of  salt, 
wood-ashes,  tar,  and  occasionally  a  little  sulphur. 

SHEEP-BARNS,  OR   SHELTERS. 

Sheep  require  constant  and  pure  air,  and  for  that  pur- 
pose their  food  should  be  taken  in  the  open  air,  except 
during  severe  storms  or  extreme  cold  weather;  where  it 
is  convenient,  it  is  well  to  construct  their  shelter  on 
a  side-hill,  where  it  can  be  stoned  up  on  three  sides, 
with  an  opening  toward  the  south  ;  at  the  same  time  so 
to  construct  it  that  a  fi-ee  circulation  of  air  can  always 
be  kept  up.  Where  a  sheep-enclosure  is  connected  with 
the  horse  or  cattle  barn,  it  ought  to  occupy  the  warmest 
portion,  and  each  species  of  animals  should  be  kept  sep- 
arate from  the  others. 

DISEASES    IN    SHEEP. 

"With  a  general  knowledge  of  their  physiological  con- 
struction, and  a  timely  attention  to  their  wants,  most  of 
the  diseases  to  which  sheep  are  subject  can  be  easily  man- 
aged. It  requires  great  judgment  to  administer  medi- 
cine at  the  proper  time,  and  in  suitable  quantity.  In 
the  use  of  it,  it  is  safe  to  follow  the  rules  laid  down  in 
this  work  for  neat  cattle.  The  quantity  prescribed  for  a 
full-grown  ox  or  cow  will  be  s,ufficient  for  twelve  sheep 
or  twenty  lambs. 

ROX. 

This  is  not  very  common  in  this  country,  but  it  occa- 
sionally infects  large  flocks,  and  first  shows  itself  by  dul- 
ness,  hanging  of  the  head,  inflamed  eyes,  and  general 
debility. 

Remedy. — Make  a  strong  decoction  of  the  bitter-sweet 
branches,  and  give  1-  a  teacupful  every  morning,  Avith  a 
good  supply  of  salt,  and  feed  on  dry  food  for  3  days. 


THE    SHEEP.  71 

FOOT-ROT. 

It  is  supposed  that  this  disease  results  from  sheep  be- 
ing kept  in  low,  wet,  or  clayey  lands,  producing  inflam- 
mation of  the  foot,  and  an  unnatural  growth  of  the  hoof. 

Remedy. — Whenever  the  disease  appears,  let  the  foot 
be  washed,  and  the  hoof  pared  off  as  much  as  possible, 
rot  to  make  it  bleed.  Let  the  sheep  stand  upon  a  diy 
stable-floor,  sprinkled  with  lime,  for  four  hours  ;  after 
this  he  may  be  kept  in  a  dry  pasture  without  further  dan- 
ger. Another  :  take  1  oz.  verdigris  and  1  oz.  blue  vitriol, 
dissolve  them  in  warm  vinegar,  and  after  the  foot  is  pared, 
apply  a  small  quantity,  and  bind  a  cloth  over  the  foot 
and  let  it  remain  for  4  days.  Another :  after  the  foot 
has  been  pared,  apply  spirits  of  turpentine  and  blue  vit- 
riol, in  equal  parts,  and  bind  up  as  before.  The  foot 
must  be  often  dressed,  and  the  sheep  kept  on  a  dry  floor 
or  in  a  green  pasture.  Those  that  are  diseased  should 
be  kept  separate  from  the  flock,  as  the  disorder  is  infec- 
tious. 

FLIES   ON    SHEEP. 

Make  a  very  thin  composition  of  -^  lb.  sulphur,  1  pt.  tar 
and  linseed  oil  or  soft  grease,  and  apply  it  to  all  parts 
of  the  body;  this  may  be  repeated  every  three  weeks. 
It  requires  only  a  very  small  quantity  for  each  sheep. 

LICE  AND   TICKS   ON    SHEEP. 

These  are  found  to  attack  sheep  that  are  poorly  kept. 
The  only  effectual  cure  is  to  make  a  strong  brine,  or, 
take  i  a  barrel  of  cold  water,  adding  -|  lb.  tobacco-*' 
leaves  boiled  in  4  qts.  water,  and  dip  the  sheep  (all  ex- 
cept the  head),  pressing  as  much  of  the  liquid  out  of  the 
wool  as  possible  after  dipping. 

STAGGERS. 

This  is  a  disease  of  the  brain,  caused  by  unwholesome 
or  improper  food,  which  produces  extreme  constipation 
of  the  bowels,  occasioning  staggering  and  general  weak- 
ness. 

Remedy. — Take  -^  pt.  fresh  butter  or  lard,  and  give  in 
a  melted  state.  Another :  dissolve  2  oz.  asafoetida  in  3 
quarts  of  warm  water  and  give  2  tablespoonfuls  3  times 


72  THE  farmer's  guide. 

a  day.      Give    half  the  quantity  the  following  day  if 
necessary. 

STURDY,  OR  WATER    IN    THE   HEAD. 

Cause. — That  this  disease  is  occasioned  solely  by  a 
chilliness  in  the  hack,  appears  from  the  following  facts  : 
1st,  it  is  always  most  general  after  windy  and  stormy 
weather  ;  2d,  it  is  most  destructive  on  farms  that  are  ill- 
sheltered,  and  on  which  sheep  are  most  exposed  to  se- 
vere storms  ;  3d,  it  preys  only  on  sheep  about  1  year  old, 
whose  wool  separates  above,  leaving  the  back  exposed 
to  the  wet  and  cold. 

Spnptoms. — As  this  is  a  disease  of  the  brain,  it  mani- 
fests itself  by  giddiness,  staggering,  dulness,  wildness, 
loss  of  flesh,  sudden  starting,  and,  finally,  a  faintness,  at- 
tended with  blindness,  prostration,  and  death. 

Remedy. — If  the  attack  is  shght,  it  may  be  removed 
by  placing  the  sheep  in  a  dry  pasture,  after  purging 
freely  ;  but  if  the  disease  is  violent,  trepanning  is  usually 
resorted  to.  It  has  been  cured  by  boring  into  the  soft 
part  of  the  skull,  with  a  small  gimlet,  and  letting  the 
water  escape.  Close  the  wound,  and  apply  some  ad- 
hesive plaster.  Another:  the  following  is  the  most  diffi- 
cult, but  at  the  same  time  the  most  sure  method  of  giv- 
ing relief,  if  skilfully  performed  :  the  disease  is  seated 
exactly  in  that  part  where  the  divisions  of  the  skull  meet, 
and  consequently  in  a  right  line  with  the  top  of  the  nose  ; 
put  a  sharpened  wire  up  the  nostiil  quite  throu2:h  the 
middle  of  the  brain,  and  by  that  means  perforating  the 
bag  which  contains  the  fluid  causing  the  disease.  The 
operation  must  be  performed  with  a  stiff  steel  wire,  of 
the  size  of  a  coarse  knitting-needle.  The  operator 
must  plaoe  his  thumb  on  the  soft  part  of  the  skull,  and 
insert  the  wire  up  the  nostril,  in  the  direction  of -the 
thumb,  until  he  feels  the  end  of  the  wire,  when  it  is  to  be 
immediately  withdrawn,  and  the  animal  let  go  free.  The 
operation  must  be  done  carefully  and  quickly,  and  if  the 
right  direction  is  given  to  the  wire,  relief  is  instantane- 
ous. Keep  the  sheep  in  a  dry  pasture,  giving  daily  one 
gill  of  corn  or  one  pitit  of  oats  for  a  few  days,  and  it  wiH 
soon  regain  its  wonted  health. 


THE    SHEEP.  73 

SCAB. 

This  is  a  very  troublesome  and  contagious  disease, 
showing  itself  on  the  back  and  neck  of  the  sheep,  produ- 
cing a  severe  burning  or  itching,  and  causing  the  animal 
to  rub  itself  until  the  blood  flows  from  the  neck  and 
head. 

Remedy. — A  weak  decoction  of  tobacco  in  dry  weath- 
er, or  juniper  oil,  berries,  or  boughs,  in  wet  weather, 
will  effect  a  cure.  Another  :  take  1  lb.  hog's  lard,  2  oz. 
sulphur,  and  1  oz.  red  precipitate;  mix  well,  and  anoint 
the  diseased  parts  with  a  very  small  quantity. 

SCOURS,  OR    DIARRHOEA. 

If  the  attack  is  slight,  it  need  excite  no  fears,  unless 
it  be  of  Ions:  continuance. 

Causes.  —  Overloading  the  stomach,  over-driving  in 
warm  weather,  eating  noxious  weeds,  change  from  poor 
to  very  rich  food,  sudden  change  of  the  weather  from 
heat  to  cold  or  cold  to  heat,  &c. 

Reniedy. — The  treatment  should  depend  upon  the  cau- 
ses that  produced  the  disease.  If  it  is  the  result  of  eating 
green  food,  give  dry  grain  and  hay  for  two  days.  If  ex- 
posure to  wet  and  cold  be  the  cause,  remove  to  a  warm 
stable  and  give  dry  food.  Where  over-heating  has  pro- 
duced it,  remove  to  a  cool  enclosure,  and  give  a  small 
dose  of  physic,  and  in  4  hours  after  give  2  grains  opium 
and  1  oz.  powdered  chalk  mixed  with  -1-  a  pint  of  wet 
bran  or  oats.  Where  unwholesome  food  has  occasioned 
the  malady,  it  is  not  safe  to  check  it  at  first ;  it  is  well  to 
give  a  tablespoonful  of  castor  oil  that  the  system  may 
become  properly  cleansed,  then  make  a  tea  of  the  white- 
pine  bark,  and  give  in  small  doses ;  or  take  \  oz.  castor- 
oil,  adding  25  drops  of  laudanum,  and  give  in  i  pint  of 
warm  water,  after  which  give  dry  food,  with  a  small 
quantity  of  oats  or  bran,  and  salt.  Another :  boil  1  qt. 
of  new  milk,  add  i  pt.  rye-flour,  and  give  lukewarm. 

SCOURS    IN     LAMBS. 

If  this  takes  place  when  the  lamb  is  but  a  day  or  two 
old,  remove  the  sheep  to  a  warm  stable,  and  feed  on 
corn  or  oats  for  two  days.  If  the  lamb  is  large,  take 
powdered  chalk,  and  mix  a  small  quantity  with  its  food. 


74  THE    FARMER  S    GUIDE. 

Another:  give  15  drops  laudanum  and  a  teaspoonful  of 
ginger.  Another :  give  a  teaspoonful  of  castor-oil,  and 
feed  on  boiled  new  milk  thickened  with  rye-flour. 

DYSENTERY. 

This  is  generally  the  result  of  long-neglected  scours, 
&c.,  though  sometimes  produced  by  unwholesome  food 
and  other  causes.  It  will  show  itself  not  only  by  a  dis- 
charge, often  discolored  with  blood,  but  by  severe  gri- 
ping pains,  which  often  terminate  fatally. 

Re7nedy. — Give  2  tablespoonfuls  of  castor-oil,  and  in 
6  hours  after,  give  25  drops  of  laudanum,  with  a  tea- 
spoonful of  ginger  and  1  pint  of  boiled  bran,  and  also 
cooling  drinks.  Another:  Six  hours  after  giving  a  mod- 
erate dose  of  physic,  of  castor-oil  or  Epsom  salts,  take 
1  teaspoonful  of  powdered  charcoal,  adding  1  oz.  fresh 
butter;  mix  with  bran,  and  give  at  one  dose.  Moderate 
bleeding  is  sometimes  beneficial  in  this  disease. 

FOUL   NOSES. 

This  disease  manifests  itself  by  the  inflammation  and 
running  of  the  eyes,  weakness  in  the  back  and  hinder 
parts,  drooping  of  the  head,  and  loss  of  appetite. 

Remedy. — Lobelia  (Indian  tobacco),  either  dry  or 
green,  given  in  a  weak  tea.  Or,  applying  warm  tar 
to  the  nose,  and  giving  a  small  quantity  of  tar-water,  will 
soon  effect  a  cure. 

SORE   EYES. 

This  complaint  is  the  result  of  a  cold,  sudden  change 
of  the  weather,  or  very  low  flesh. 

Remedy. — Put  the  sheep  in  good  condition,  and  the 
complaint  will  generally  disappear.  New  milk  applied 
to  the  eyes  is  very  serviceable. 

CAKED    BAG. 

This  is  caused  by  the  loss  of  the  lamb  or  the  lamb  be- 
ing unable  to  draw  all  the  milk.  If  the  lamb  is  lost, 
substitute  another  in  its  place  ;  and  if  the  lamb  is  not 
able  to  draw  all  the  milk,  it  can  be  taken  away  a  few 
times  by  hand,  and  keep  the  sheep  on  dry  food  for  a  few 
days. 


THE    SHEEP.  75 

HOVEN. 

Sheep,  like  neat  cattle,  when  put  into  a  fresh  clover- 
field,  will  sometimes  have  their  stomachs  distended  by 
wind  to  that  degree  that  they  must  be  relieved  at  once, 
which  can  be  done  in  the  same  manner  as  for  cattle. 
The  swelling  rises  the  highest  on  the  left  side,  and  on 
this  side  let  the  incision  be  made.     (See  cattle,  p.  39.) 

COSXIVENESS. 
"Remedy. — Give  \  oz.  Epsom  salts  or  two  tablespoon- 
fuls  of  castor-oil,  or  feed  on  green  clover  for  one  day. 

COLDS   AND    INFLUENZA. 

These  are  caused  by  exposure  to  storms  and  cold,  and 
sometimes  by  lying  on  wet  and  marshy  grounds,  and  by 
sudden  changes  of  the  atmosphere. 

Symptoms. — The  indications  of  this  disease  are  a  dis- 
charge of  mucus  from  the  nose,  weakness,  dullness  of 
the  eyes,  loss  of  appetite,  and  wheezing. 

Remedy. — When  the  cold  is  slight,  give  them  a  few 
white-pine  boughs  to  browse  upon,  with  a  good  supply 
of  salt  and  tar.  If  the  disease  does  not  yield  to  mild 
treatment,  moderate  bleeding  must  be  resorted  to,  with 
warming  drinks  made  of  pennyroyal,  sage,  or  catnip. 
Another:  if  the  disease  is  far  advanced,  attended  with 
diarrhoea,  give  20  drops  of  laudanum  with  a  teaspoonful 
of  powdered  chalk,  once  a  day  until  relieved ;  after 
which  give  white-pine  or  hemlock  boughs. 

INFLAMMATION    OF  THE    LUNGS. 

This  is  caused  by  exposure  and  cold,  which  settles  on 
the  lungs,  attended  with  the  same  symptoms  described 
under  the  head  of  colds  and  influenza,  only  in  an  aggra- 
vated degree. 

Remedy. — Put  the  sheep  into  a  warai  enclosure,  bleed 
freely,  and  give  a  tablespoonfui  of  castor-oil,  or  the  same 
quantity  of  lard  ;  after  which  give  warm  nourishing 
drinks. 

INFLAMMATION    OF  THE    BRAIN. 

Cause. — CH^er-heating,  overdriving,  breathing  impure 
air,  or  high  feeding  with  solid  gi'ain. 


76   '  THE  farmer's  guide. 

Sympt07ns. — The  ears  stand  erect,  eyes  red  and  fiery, 
fierceness,  raving,  stalling,  and  madness. 

Heinedy. — Bleed  freely  in  the  head  ;  give  1  oz.  Epsom 
salts  or  2  oz.  castor-oil,  bathe  the  head  for  1  hour  in  cold 
vinegar  and  water  (in  equal  parts),  give  \  pt.  sage  tea 
mixed  with  \  pt.  molasses  \  repeat  the  bathing  and  tea 
if  necessary. 

PELT-ROT.  » 

In  this  disease  the  wool  falls  off,  leaving  the  skin  cov- 
ered with  a  white  thin  crust. 

Remedy. — The  only  remedy  for  prevention  is  good 
feeding,  warm  keeping,  and  anointing  the  parts  from 
which  the  skin  is  off  with  a  thin  ointment  of  tar  and 
grease. 

SMALL-POX,    OR    CO\A^-POX. 

This  disease  shows  itself  in  blistei's,  first  on  the  flanks 
and  afterward  spreading  over  the  body.  It  is  usually 
produced  by  drinking  stagnant  and  impure  water. 

Remedy. — Give  slightly  purgative  medicines,  anoint- 
ing the  blisters,  as  they  break,  with  sweet-oil,  and  remo- 
ving them  where  they  can  have  access  to  pure  water. 
The  disease  is  infectious. 

SORE  AND    SV/OLLEN    MOUTH. 

This  is  occasioned  by  eating  irritating  or  poisonous 
plants,  as  the  Johnswort,  hemlock,  nettles,  and  some 
other  plants. 

Remedy. — Tar-water,  or  putting  tar  in  the  mouth,  and 
a  teaspoonful  of  sulphur  in  oats  or  bran.  Or,  an  oint- 
ment of  fresh  butter  and  sulphur  applied  to  the  affected 
part  will  usually  effect  a  cure. 

\A/OUNDS   AND   CUTS. 

"Wounds  received  by  being  hooked  by  neat  cattle,  or 
from  the  bite  of  a  dog,  should  be  left  to  bleed  a  short 
time;  then  sew  up  (if  the  wound  is  large),  and  ^pply 
salve  made  of  beeswax  and  lard,  and  keep  the  animal 
still  for  a  few  days.  If  the  cut  is  on  the  leg,  it  ought  to 
be  dressed  as  above,  with  bandages. 
FEVERS. 

Fevers  are  the  result  of  various  causes,  and  are  to  be 
treated  much  the  same  as  in  cattle ;  but  the  dose  for  1  ox 


THE    SHEEP.  77 

is  sufficient  for  12  sheep.  If  the  slieep  is  costive  give  a 
tablespoonful  of  castor-oil,  followed  by  cooling  drinks. 
(See  cattle,  p.  2S.) 

DOCKING  SHEEP  AND  LAMBS. 
At  4  weeks  old  place  the  lamb  on  the  floor,  draw  the 
skin  up  toward  the  body,  and  cut  off  the  member  2 
inches  from  the  body,  between  the  joints,  and  the  skin 
will  return  over  the  wound.  After  the  operation  is  per- 
formed, apply  tar  and  grease,  which  will  keep  off  the 
flies,  and  cause  it  to  heal  soon.  If  the  operation  has 
been  neglected  until  the  animal  becomes  old,  attend  to 
it  early  in  the  spring  or  in  the  fall. 

STRETCHES. 

This  disease  is  the  result  of  being  kept  confined  du- 
ring long  winters,  or  extreme  costiveness. 

Symptoms. — Loss  of  appetite,  stretching  on  the  ground, 
dullness  of  the  eyes,  passiug  the  head  quickly  from  side 
to  side,  and  frequent  unavailing  eff'orts  to  void  dung. 

Remedy. — The  only  remedy  is  purging.  Give  to  each 
sheep  3  tablespoonfuls  of  melted  lard,  or  2  tabiespoon- 
fuls  of  castor-oil,  or  1  oz.  Epsom  salts.  Slight  attacks 
can  be  cured  by  giving  moist  food  for  a  few  days.  If 
sheep  have  occasionally  a  few  potatoes,  turnips,  &c.,  or 
green  boughs  of  hemlock  or  pine,  they  are  never  trou- 
bled with  this  disorder. 
GAD-FLIES,  WORMS,  OR  MAGGOTS,  IN 
THE   HEAD. 

The  disorder  produced  by  the  gad-fly  [Qllstr^is  Ovis)  is 
very  fatal  among  large  flocks  of  sheep,  frequently  carry- 
ing off  numbers  without  the  cause  being  suspected. 
In  July,  August,  and  September,  these  insects  deposit© 
their  eggs  in  the  nostrils,  where  they  remain  for  some 
w&3ks,  when  they  hatch,  and,  being  small  at  first,  con- 
tinue there  till  the  next  spring  or  summer,  when  they 
creep  up  into  the  head,  producing  disease  and  death. 

SymjJtoms.  —  This  complaint  generally  appears  as 
warm  weather  approaches,  and  becomes  manifest  by 
water  or  matter  running  from  the  nose,  frequently  dis- 
colored with  blood;  drooping  of  the  head,  running  with 
the  nose  near  the  ground,  snorting,  starting  suddenly, 
7 


78  THE  farmer's  guide. 

loss  of  appetite,  loss  of  flesh,  the  wool  falling  off,  and  in 
the  latter  stages  of  the  disease,  the  animal  becomes  fran- 
tic, suddenly  falling  and  soon  expiring. 

Remedy. — If  the  attack  is  slight,  it  may  sometimes  be 
removed  by  smearing  the  nose  with  tar,  or  putting  salt 
and  tar  in  the  trough.  Another:  when  the  symptoms 
first  appear,  let  the  sheep  run  in  a  fresh-ploughed  field 
for  one  week.  Another :  take  a  tobacco-pipe,  well- 
lighted,  and  blow  up  the  smoke  in  each  nostril  for  a 
short  time,  repeating  the  operation  once  in  three  days. 
Another:  take  1  lb.  Scotch  snuff  and  1  oz.  powdered 
ginger,  pour  upon  them  3  qts.  boiling  water,  mix  well, 
and,  when  cold,  pour  a  tablespoonful  of  the  decoc- 
tion into  each  nostril,  holding  the  head  well  up  for  a 
short  time.  Where  snuff*  is  not  at  hand,  .take  1  lb.  of  leaf 
or  i  lb.  plug  tobacco,  boil  it  15  minutes,  and  add  to  this 
a  small  quantity  of  ginger,  and  use  as  above.  When 
this  is  given  to  the  sheep  it  produces  a  stupefying  effect 
for  a  few  moments  ;  they  will,  however,  soon  recover. 
It  is  a  good  precaution  to  administer  a  small  quantity  of 
the  above  liquid  to  the  whole  flock  once  in  4  weeks  du- 
ring the  winter.  Another :  take  spirits  of  turpentine 
and  a  weak  decoction  of  tobacco,  in  equal  quantities,  and 
inject  a  teaspoonful  into  each  nostril,  holding  the  head 
for  a  moment  in  an  elevated  position.  A  little  train-oil 
or  rancid  butter  may  be  applied  to  the  nose  after  the 
worms  are  expelled,  which  may  prevent  a  second  attack. 

POISON. 

This  is  occasioned  by  eating  laurel,  wilted  leaves  of 
the  wild  cherry,  and  some  other  shrubs  and  plants. 

Remedy. — Take  of  the  twigs  of  the  white-ash,  boil  for 
2  hours,  and  give  -J  a  teacupful  of  the  liquor  with  a  gill 
of  molasses,  in  a  lukewarm  state,  to  each  sheep.  Unless 
relief  be  obtained  within  1  hour,  the  dose  may  be  re- 
peated, reducing  the  quantity  one  half.  Another  :  give 
immediately  -J  a  teacupful  of  melted  fresh  butter  or  lard. 

BLEEDING. 

In  sudden  attacks  of  disease,  it  aids  the  recovery  of 
an  animal  to  bleed  freely,  provided  he  is  in  high  flesh. 
There  are  various  ways  of  performing  this  operation. 


SWINE.  79 

"Where  a  small  quantity  of  blood  is  to  be  taken,  it  can  b© 
done  by  opening  a  vein  under  the  tail,  but  the  usual  and 
most  preferable  parts  of  the  body  are  the  face  and  legs. 
The  prominent  veins  of  the  face  are  easily  accessible. 
"When  the  operation  is  to  be  performed,  the  thumb 
should  be  applied  to  the  vein  below  where  the  incision 
is  to  be  made,  and  soon  the  vein  will  fill.  When  the  re- 
quired amount  of  blood  is  taken  (which  depends  upon 
the  size  and  condition  of  the  animal),  insert  a  pin  through 
the  vein  and  tie  a  thread  close  around  it. 

TO    PROTECT   SHEEP  AND    LAMBS    FROM 
DOGS,    FOXES,    AND   NA/OLVES. 

Take  equal  parts  of  sulphur  and  tar,  adding  a  small 
quantity  of  aloes,  powdered,  and  smear  their  necks  and 
legs  once  a  month  through  the  summer. 


SWINE. 

The  breeds  of  swine  raised  in  this  country  are  so 
numerous,  that  the  limits  of  this  work  will  not  admit  a 
detailed  or  particular  description  of  them.  It  is,  howev- 
er, practically  sufficient  to  say,  that  the  Old  English  and 
the  Berkshire  are  considered  as  decidedly  the  best,  and 
are  to  be  found  in  all  sections  of  the  United  States. 

BREEDING. 

For  breeding  purposes,  choose  the  largest,  and  those 
having  the  longest  body ;  and  none  should  be  selected 
under  one  year  of  age.  They  should  have  a  pasture  or 
large  yard  to  range  in,  and  be  given,  occasionally,  green 
food.  They  should  be  kept  as  much  as  possible  to  them- 
selves at  the  time  of  littering.  For  three  or  four  days 
after  littering,  the  sow  should  be  fed  on  boiled  bran  or 
other  light  food,  and  protected  from  annoyance.  If  the 
litter  is  large,  the  sow  will  need  much  green  or  liquid 
food,  yet  care  should  be  taken  that  the  scours,  or  diar- 
rhoea, is  not  produced.  Sometimes  sows  devour  their 
pigs ;  this  can  be  prevented  by  giving  them  fresh  meat 
for  a  day  or  two. 


80  THE  farmer's  guide. 

MANAGEMENT  OF  PIGS. 

Pigs  will  soon  learn  to  eat  green  herbs,  and  should  have  a 
few  oats  daily,  with  a  good  supply  of  milk.  Should  they  be 
attacked  with  scours,  hew  milk  boiled,  and  thickened  with 
flour,  will  soon  relieve  them.  When  they  are  ten  weeks  old 
they  can  be  weaned,  keeping  them  out  of  the  sight  and  hearing 
of  the  sow.  It  is  well  not  to  take  all  of  the  pigs  from  the 
mother  on  the  same  day.  The  sow  should  be  fed  on  dry  food 
for  one  week,  thereby  lessening  the  amount  of  milk.  When 
it  IS  desirable  to  fatten  pigs  fast,  give  them  boiled  rice. 

GENERAL  MANAGEMENT  OF  SWINE. 

It  only  requires  good  management  to  make  the  raising  of 
swine  one  of  the  most  profitable  occupatioaas  of  the  farmer.  In 
the  summer  season  swine  will  greatly  improve  by  being  al- 
lowed to  run  in  a  clover-field  or  pasture,  also  having  the  whey 
of  the  dairy  and  wash  of  the  house,  with  salt  every  other  day. 
When  swine  are  not  permitted  to  range  at  large,  allow  them 
occasionally  to  have  access  to  a  trough  containing  salt,  tar, 
sulphur,  wood-ashes,  and  a  small  quantity  of  Epsom  salts  and 
charcoal. 

PENS. 

It  is  an  impression  with  many  that  swine  thrive  well  when 
kept  in  filthy  or  wet  and  muddy  pens ;  this  has  been  proved  to  be 
a  great  mistake.  They  will  thrive  much  the  best  in  a  perfectly 
dsy,  clean,  and  comfortable  shelter.  The  pen  ought  to  be 
built  in  a  warm  location,  protected  from  piercing  winds,  with 
free  access  to  the  open  air.  It  should  be  divided  into  three 
apartments,  one  for  eating,  one  for  sleeping,  and  one  for  evacu- 
ation. The  first  two  should  be  on  the  highest  ground.  The 
troughs  should  be  fastened  to  the  floor  or  ground,  and  not 
more  than  five  inches  deep,  that  no  great  pressure  be  made  on 
the  throat  while  drinking. 

FATTENING. 

After  bringing  them  from  the  pasture,  and  in  preparing  them 
rapidly  for  the  market,  they  will  require  a  gentle  purgative, 
unless  green  cornstalks  or  other  green  food  be  given  them,  as 
dry  grain  is  liable  to  produce  costiveness.  To  save  trou- 
ble, corn,  potatoes,  &;c.,  are  frequently  given  to  swine  in  their 
raw  state.  Where  this  is  done,  at  least  one  third  of  the  nour- 
ishment is  lost.  Grain  should  always  be  ground  and  cooked,  or 
soaked  until  fermentation  is  produced,  and  potatoes  and  other 
roots  boiled  and  salted.  Experience  has  proved  that  grain  and 
roots  given  alternately,  greatly  conduce  to  the  thriving  of  the 
animals.  They  should  be  fed  regularly  three  times  a  day,  and 
be  allowed  fresh  earth,  rotten  wood,  or  a  small  quantity  of 


J^' 


SWINE. 


81 


-«'^ 


82  THE  farmer's  guide. 

pulverized  charcoal,  three  times  a  week.  Food  should  never 
be  given  of  a  higher  temperature  than  blood-heat.  It  is  un- 
wholesome if  it  is  given  hot,  often  producing  the  measles. 

DISEASES   OF    SNA/ IN  E. 

It  is  no  less  true,  though  perhaps  mortifying  to  the  animal 
that  walks  erect,  that  in  its  internal  economy  and  general 
physiological  structure,  the  hog  bears  a  close  resemblance  to 
the  human  being ;  and,  therefore,  its  diseases  require,  in  a 
measure,  the  same  treatment.  As  its  maladies,  however,  are 
but  little  known,  and  are  also  difficult  to  cure,  care  should  be 
taken,  as  far  as  practicable,  to  preclude  the  necessity  of  the  use 
of  medicine.  In  addition  to  the  precautions  before  given,  we 
would  say,  that  swine  should,  if  possible,  in  spring,  summer, 
and  autumn,  have  access  to  running  water. 

MEASLES. 

This  disease  is  seldom  found  in  swine,  yet  when  it  does  at- 
tack them  it  is  difficult  to  remove  it.  It  is  caused  by  high-feed- 
ing or  giving  very  warm  drinks,  producing  small  tumors  in 
the  throat.  This  disorder  is  not  easily  discovered  while  the 
animal  is  alive,  and  can  only  be  known  by  its  not  thriving  or 
fattening  as  the  others. 

Remedy. — Give  \  oz.  Epsom  salts  after  fasting  12  hours. 
Another:  take  2  grains  powdered  antimony  and  give  in  new 
milk.  Another :  give  ^  oz.  sulphur  twice  a  week  with  their 
food.  ^ 

ISSUES. 

Unlike  most  other  animals,  hogs  have  no  insensible  perspi- 
ration from  the  body,  but  have  a  number  of  small  issues  on  the 
inner  side  of  their  fore-legs,  below  the  knee  Joint ;  here,  it  ap- 
pears, is  the  outlet  for  the  superfluous  fluid  of  the  body.  When 
these  become  obstructed  by  mud,  clay,  or  any  other  substance, 
the  animal  becomes  sickly,  loses  his  appetite,  and  is  thirsty 
and  feverish. 

Remedy. — The  only  relief  known  is  to  open  the  issues  by 
rubbing  them  with  a  stick  or  cob,  and  anointing  the  parts  with 
a  small  quantity  of  sweet-oil,  to  prevent  their  closing  again. 

QUINSY. 

This  disease  shows  itself  by  a  stiff'ness  of  the  legs,  maction, 
difficulty  of  swallowing,  taking  hard  food  into  the  mouth  and 
casting  it  out  again,  often  lifting  the  head,  stretching  the  neck, 
and  a  swelling  of  the  glands  of  the  throat.  It  results  from  ta- 
king cold  or  from  the  closing  of  the  issues  and  other  causes. 

Remedy. — Bring  them  into  a  warm  enclosure,  and  see  that 
the  issues  are  well  open ;  take  1  qt    corn-meal,  1^  oz.  Ep- 


SWINE.  83 

som  salts,  1  oz.  castor-oil,  1  tablespoonful  of  sulphur,  1  qt.  new 
milk,  and  give  at  once,  keeping  salt  and  tar  in  their  troughs. 
SORE  THROAT. 

The  symptoms  are  similar  to  those  of  the  preceding  com- 
plaint, with  this  exception,  that  the  glands  of  the  neck  are  not 
swollen. 

Remedy. — Take  a  teacupful  of  molasses,  ^  a  teacupful  of 
vinegar,  a  tablespoonful  of  melted  butter,  and  a  teaspoonful  of 
black  pepper,  and  give  when  nearly  cold.  Feed  for  two  days 
with  fresh  clover  or  potatoes  and  turnips. 

COLDS,  COUGHS,  AND    INFLAMMATION 
OF  THE    BRAIN. 

Owing  to  the  very  light  covering  allotted  to  this  animal,  he  is 
peculiarly  liable  to  these  complaints.  The  only  preventives 
are  warm  pens,  proper  attention,  and,  more  than  all,  a  thick 
lining  of  flit  under  the  skin,  which  will  enable  them  to  endure 
storms  or  extreme  cold  weather.  Swine  that  are  poorly  kept 
are  very  subject  to  these  complaints,  Avhile  those  that  are  well 
kept  almost  invariably  escape.  The  symptoms  are  more  or 
less  violent,  according  to  the  severity  of  the  attack. 

Remedy. — If  the  cold  or  cough  is  not  severe,  moderate  pur- 
gatives and  a  warming  diet  will  generally  effect  a  cure,  but  if 
the  disease  appears  to  affect  the  lungs,  bleed  1  pint,  and  give 
gentle  physic,  of  Epsom  salts  or  castor-oil  and  sulphur. 

RUPTURE. 

What  is  called  a  rupture  is  a  hole  broken  in  the  rim  of  the 
belly  which  causes  a  part  of  the  intestines  to  come  out  and 
lodge  between  the  rim  of  the  belly  and  the  skin,  having  an  ap- 
pearance similar  to  a  swelling  in  the  testicles.  The  male  pigs 
are  more  liable  to  this  disease  than  the  females. 

Remedy. — Geld  the  pig  thus  affected,  and  cause  it  to  be  held 
up  with  its  head  downward ;  flay  back  the  skin  from  the  swol- 
len place,  and,  from  the  situation  in  which  the  pig  is  held,  the 
intestines  will  naturally  return  to  their  proper  place  ;  sew  up 
the  hole  with  a  square-pointed  needle,  with  a  bend  in  it,  as  the 
rupture  is  frequently  between  the  hind  legs,  where  a  straight 
needle  can  not  be  used.  After  this  is  done,  replace  and  sew 
up  the  skin.  Apply  a  salve  made  of  mutton- tallow  and  bees- 
wax, and  feed  sparingly  for  one  week. 

SCOURS. 

Scours  are  caused  by  overloading  the  stomach,  eating  un- 
wholesome food,  or  over-driving. 

Remedy. — The  same  medicines  can  be  given  as  for  cattle 
(p.  49)  only  the  dose  for  an  ox  is  sufficient  for  10  or  12  swine. 
Take  ]  gill  of  pulverized  charcoal  or  2  tablespoonfuls  of  pow- 


84  THE    FARMER  S    GUIDE. 

dered  chalk,  and  mix  with  the  food  ;  or  take  25  drops  of  lauda- 
num mixed  with  1  quart  new  milk. 

BLIND    STAGGERS. 

This  disorder  is  generally  confined  to  pigs  under  one  year 
old,  and  is  caused  by  high  feeding,  impure  air,  or  excessive 
heat,  producing  a  determination  of  blood  to  the  head. 

Symptoms. — Partial  blindness,  foaming  at  the  mouth,  stag- 
gering, weakness,  and  grinding  of  the  teeth. 

Remedij. — Examine  and  see  that  the  issues  on  the  legs  are 
open,  purge  freely,  and  in  6  hours  after  give  1  gill  of  brandy  or 
rum,  and  a  teaspoonful  of  pepper. 

BRUISES   AND   CUXS. 

These  require  much  the  same  treatment  as  m  other  animals, 
(See  cattle  and  sheep,  pp.  42,  54,  76.) 

SWELLINGS. 

Swellings  can  generally  be  scattered  by  rubbing  thoroughly 
with  warm  spirits  or  vinegar,  adding  a  small  quantity  of  black 
pepper.  If  the  swelling  is  but  small,  apply  warm  soap-suds. 
Should  the  swelling  be  large  and  soft,  it  may  require  poul- 
ticing. After  it  is  opened,  apply  drawing  healing  salve,  made 
of  beeswax  and  mutton-tallow. 

CATARRH. 

This  is  the  result  of  colds  and  exposure,  manifesting  itself 
by  an  unnatural  discharge  from  the  nose. 

Remedy. — Take  2  oz.  coriander-seed,  1-2  pt.  molasses,  and 
2  oz.  ginger  ;  boil  15  minutes  in  2  qts.  new  milk,  and  give 
warm,  keeping  the  animal  warm,  and  feed  on  dry  food  for  a 
few  days. 

ITCH,    SCAB,    OR    MANGE. 

This  complaint  is  produced  in  young  pigs  by  drawing  nour- 
ishment from  the  soui  after  she  has  eaten  some  unwholesome 
food,  and  by  other  causes. 

Symptoms. — The  pigs  are  often  seen  rubbing  their  necks, 
sides,  and  bellies,  producing  a  red  and  inflamed  appearance  of 
the  skin.  As  the  disease  progresses,  small  fiery  blisters  ap- 
pear, rendering  the  animal  emaciated  and  restiff,  which  fre- 
quently terminates  fatally  unless  relief  be  obtained. 

Remedy. — Immerse  the  pig  in  lukewarm  water,  and,  after 
drying,  apply  to  all  the  parts  affected  an  ointment  made  of  1-2 
lb.  lead  and  1-4  lb.  sulphur.     If  the  pig  is  old  enough  to  drink, 
put  a  small  quantity  of  sulphur  in  his  food. 
FEVERS. 

These  are  occasioned  by  colds,  exposure,  or  the  stoppasje  of 
the  issue. 


SWINE.  85 

Hemedij. — Examine  the  issues,  and  give  a  moderate  dose  of 
physic  and  a  few  boiled  parsnips,  and  other  cooling  liquids. 
(See  fevers  in  cattle,  p.  45.) 

COSTIVENESS. 

Remedy. — Give  a  small  quantity  of  Epsom  salts  or  castor- 
oil  in  the  food,  and  a  few  handfuls  of  fresh  clover  if  it  is  ia 
season.     (See  cattle,  p.  49.) 

KIDNEY-WORM. 

The  symptoms  are  great  weakness  of  the  loins  and  hinder 

fiarts,  followed  by  entire  prostration.  It  is  seldom  cured  un- 
ess  attended  to  in  its  earliest  stages.  This  disorder  is  prevented 
by  a  lange  of  pasture,  and  mixing  a  teacupful  of  wood-a  :^S3 
with  their  food  every  week,  or  putting  tar  and  saltpetre  in  their 
troughs. 

Remedy. — When  first  attacked,  anoint  the  loins  with  spirits 
of  turpentine,  or  soak  corn  or  rye  in  lye  made  from  wood-ashes, 
and  feed  every  morning ;  or  give  1  grain  of  calomel,  and  keep 
the  animal  warm  for  a  few  days. 

SWINE-POX. 

This  shows  itself  by  a  fine  eruption  of  the  skin  near  the 
joints,  and  by  a  redness  of  the  eyes. 

Remedy. — Take  ^  an  oz.  saltpetre,  dissolve  it  in  ^  pt.  vine- 
gar and  a  teacupful  of  sw^eet  or  linseed  oil,  and  a  tablespoonful 
of  honey,  and  give  lukewarm,  in  3  parts,  every  morning. 

BLACK  -TEETH. 

This  sfenerally  attacks  swine  early  in  the  spring,  and  is  oc- 
casioned by  being  kept  long  from  the  ground.  Its  first  synip- 
toms  are  the  teeth  turning  brown,  and  soon  after  black,  which 
soon  aflTects  the  whole  system,  producing  dizziness,  trembling, 
weakness  of  the  hinder  parts,  loss  of  appetite,  and  wildness  of 
the  eyes. 

Remedy. — As  the  black  teeth  not  only  injure  the  general 
health  as  well  as  the  sound  teeth,  they  ought  to  be  extracted. 
Examine  and  see  that  the  issues  are  open,  give  1  oz.  sulphur 
and  1  oz.  pulverized  charcoal,  with  tar-water,  and  fresh  green 
food.  Keep  the  diseased  swine  separate  from  the  rest  for  a  few 
days. 

MURRAIN. 

This  disorder  is  the  most  prevalent  toward  the  close  of 
warm  vv^eather,  when  the  blood  becomes  thick  and  inflamed, 
producing  fever,  shortness  of  breath,  weakness,  inflammation 
of  the  eyes,  drowsiness,  and  inaction. 

Remedy.— Boil  ^  lb.  elecampane-root  ^  an  hour,  in  6  quarts 
water  ;  add  ^  lb.  sulphur,  ^  lb.  pulverized  aniseseed,  ^  lb.  liquor- 


86  THE    FAtlMEit's    GUIDE. 

ice  ball,  i  lb.  ginger  ;  bottle,  and  give  in  pint  doses  every  morn- 
ing.    Keep  on  green  food  for  a  few  days. 

UNIVERSAL  SPECIFIC. 

Many  farmers,  when  their  swine  show  signs  of  illness,  feed 
them  with  corn-meal,  mixed  with  2  oz.  sulphur  and  the  same 
quantity  of  tar,  charcoal,  and  salt,  removing  them  to  a  warm, 
dry  shelter.  This,  of  course,  will  not  cure  all  diseases,  but 
"will  prevent  most  of  them  assuming  a  violent  form. 

PHYSIC. 

It  is  customary  with  many  people,  when  medicine  is  to  be 
administered  to  swine,  to  put  a  rope  in  their  mouths  and  draw 
their  heads  up.  This  is  a  very  injurious  practice,  for  should 
the  hog  attempt  to  squeal,  the  liquid  will  go  down  the  wind- 
pipe and  choke  him.  The  only  safe  and  effectual  manner  of 
giving  medicines,  is  with  milk  or  other  food. 

BLEEDING. 

Most  of  the  diseases  to  which  swine  are  subject,  wnll  yield 
to  mild  treatment ;  but  where  the  attack  is  violent,  and  nothing 
else  will  avail,  it  will  be  necessary  to  confine  the  animal,  and 
bleed  from  an  artery  just  above  the  knee,  on  the  inside  of  the 
forearm,  or  from  the  roof  of  the  mouth.  It  is  somewhat  difficult 
to  stop  the  blood  where  the  mouth  is  lanced,  but  it  can  usually 
be  done  by  partly  filling  the  mouth  with  dry  bran.  Where 
a  vein  is  cut,  the  bleeding  can  be  stanched  by  inserting  a  pin 
through  the  vein  and  tying  a  thread  around  it. 

PREVENTING    SNA^INE    FROM    ROOXING. 

Take  the  pig  when  young,  and  cut  off  the  gristle  on  the  top 
of  the  snout ;  apply  a  little  tar,  and  it  will  soon  heal. 


POULTRY. 

There  are  many  ways  in  which  poultry  may  be  rendered 
more  valuable  to  the  husbandman  than  is  generally  supposed. 
The  keeping  of  domestic  fowls  not  only  occupies  much  of  the 
attention,  and  calls  forth  many  of  the  kindlier  feelings  of  chil- 
dren, assisting  also  to  while  away  many  an  idle  hour,  but,  if 
properly  attended  to,  they  will  yield  a  larger  profit,  in  propor- 
tion to  the  food  they  consume,  than  any  other  stock  raised  on  a 
farm.  It  is  estimated  that  the  value  of  poultry  produced  in 
the  United  States,  in  1847,  was  $35,000,000. 


POULTRY. 


87 


HENS. 

The  hen  is  the  most  highly  prized  of  all  of  the  domes- 
tic tribes.  There  are  many  species  of  this  fowl-,  each  having 
iis  peculiar  excellences,  and  being  more  or  less  productive, 
making  it  difficult  to  recommend  any  of  them  above  the  oth- 
ers. Hens  properly  kept,  will  pay  three  or  four  times  their 
first  cost  and  feeding  yearly. 

FOOD. 

Hens  can  be  kept  on  almost  any  kind  of  grain  or  roots,  though 
they  thrive  best  where  they  are  allowed  a  variety  of  food. 
They  will  eat  freely  corn,  oats,  barley,  buckwheat,  or  boiled 
potatoes,  and  green  turnips.  They  likewise  will  devour  green 
cabbage,  lettuce,  clover,  chickweed,  plantain,  &c.  They,  how- 
ever, prefer  corn  to  all  other  kinds  of  food.  While  permitted 
to  range  the  fields,  they  will  obtain  sufficient  animal  food  by 
devouring  insects,  but  in  winter  they  should  have,  once  a  fort- 
night, a  small  quantity  of  fresh  meat,  chopped  fine.  It  is  gen- 
erally supposed  that  hens  do  not  produce  eggs  as  rapidly  ia 
winter  as  at  other  seasons ;  but  if  proper  attention  be  showa 
them,  the  difference  will  be  scarcely  perceptible.  Corn,  either 
boiled  or  ground,  is  the  most  natural  food  for  them  ;  yet  they 
require  some  lighter  food,  such  as  apples,  boiled  potatoes,  tur- 
nips, and  other  roots.    It  would  be  well  to  give  them  frequently 


88  THE  farmer's  guide. 

oats,  rye,  buckwheat,  or  bran.  They  should  in  winter  have 
access  to  the  ground,  or  have  a  quantity  of  gravel  v/ithin  reach, 
as  without  the  aid  of  gravel-stones,  digestion  can  not  be  carried 
on.  Where  hens  are  high-fed,  and  precluded  access  to  the 
ground,  for  a  length  of  time,  to  prevent  their  eggs  being  pro- 
duced without  shells,  a  small  quantity  of  slaked  lime,  pounded 
oyster-shells,  or  ashes  and  salt,  should  be  given  them,  with 
fresh  water  daily.  During  the  cold  season  warm  food  should 
be  allowed  them. 

HEN-HOUSE. 

It  is  usual  for  some  farmers  to  allow  their  hens  to  roost  in 
trees,  or  in  the  barn,  during  the  warm  season  of  the  year.  This 
can  not  always  be  avoided,  yet  if  a  little  timely  expense  v/ere 
incurred  in  building  a  house  for  them,  it  would  result  in  much 
greater  benefit  than  is  generally  supposed.  No  reflecting  man 
will  long  allow  his  flock  of  hens  to  occupy  a  barn  Vv'ell  filled 
with  all  kinds  of  unthrashed  grain.  The  house  can  be  con- 
structed in  a  great  variety  of  ways,  according  to  the  wishes  of 
the  owner.  It  should  be  built  on  perfectly  dry  ground,  in  a 
warm  location,  without  any  floor,  well  lighted  with  glass  win- 
dows, so  arranged  that  they  can  be  opened  and  shut  at  pleas- 
ure ;  the  entrance  about  three  feet  from  the  ground,  by  means 
of  a  plank  10  feet  long,  one  end  of  which  resting  upon  a  stone 
placed  upon  the  ground,  and  the  other  end  connecting  with  the 
opening.  Around  the  sides  of  the  house  separate  boxes,  15 
inches  square  and  10  inches  deep  can  be  placed,  in  tiers,  one 
above  another,  with  the  openings  so  arranged  that  they  will 
not  face  each  other,  as  the  hen,  while  sitting,  wishes  to  be  un- 
disturbed. In  the  boxes  place  hay  and  straw  for  a  nest,  having 
a  sufficient  number  of  them  to  prevent  the  hens  from  trespass- 
ing upon  each  other.  In  severe  storms,  close  the  windows, 
leaving  openings  for  ventilation. 

BREEDING. 

The  hen  usually  selects  a  retired  place  for  her  nest,  and  fre- 
quently produces  a  brood  of  chickens  at  the  commencement  of 
winter,  when  they  are  nearly  worthless.  It  can  be  known 
when  she  is  sitting  (as  it  is  termed)  by  a  noise  peculiar  to  her 
at  that  seasvn.  If  it  is  desirable  to  prevent  her  from  sitting, 
she  can  be  watched  closely  for  a  short  time,  as  she  will  not 
remain  long  from  her  nest,  and  her  place  of  concealment  can 
be  found,  the  eggs  removed,  and  the  nest  so  thoroughly  de- 
stroyed that  she  will  not  return  to  it.  Hens  require  a  warm, 
dry,  and  secluded  place  for  their  nests,  and  will  generally  hatch 
all  of  their  eggs.  There  may  be  a  difl'ercnce  of  from  12  to  24 
hours  in  the  time  of  the  hatching  of  the  brood  ;  in  that  case  it 
may  be  necessary  to  remove  those  first  hatched,  to  prevent 


POULTRY.  89 

them  from  wandering  from  the  others  as  well  as  to  prevent  the 
hen  leaving  the  nest  loo  soon. 

DISEASES  OF   HENS. 
Hens  are  liable  to  but  few  diseases,  and  these,  by  a  little  at- 
tention, are  easily  prevented  or  cured. 

GAPES  OR    PIP 

Is  caused  by  drinking  unwholesome  water,  or  by  long  con- 
finement. 

Remedy. —  Remove  the  scab,  or  white  blister,  from  the 
tongue,  and  apply  salt  and  vinegar,  and  give  some  oily  sub- 
stance with  their  food.  Spirits  of  turpentine,  and  ginger,  mixed 
with  their  food,  is  a  preventive. 

ROUP,  CROUP,  AND  CATARRH. 

The  symptoms  are  swelling  of  the  head,  thirst,  inflamed  and 
swelled  eyelids,  difficulty  of  swallowing,  loss  of  appetite,  and 
an  offensive  watery  discharge  from  the  mouth.  These  diseases 
are  produced  by  long  confinement,  impure  air,  or  unwholesome 
food. 

Remedy. — Put  them  in  a  warm  place,  bathe  their  heads  in 
warm,  weak  soap-suds,  or  warm  new  milk,  giving  them  a 
small  quantity  of  ginger,  mustard,  or  pepper,  mixed  with  their 
food.  Should  they  refuse  to  eat,  it  should  be  forced  down  their 
throats.  A  small  quantity  of  pulverized  charcoal,  mixed  with 
corn-meal  will  sometimes  effect  a  cure. 

COSTIVENESS. 

Remedy.- -Mix  lard,  castor-oil,  or  honey,  with  their  food,  or 
dissolve  a  tcaspoonful  of  Epsom  salts  in  1  quart  of  water,  in 
which  soak  oats  or  corn,  and  give  to  the  fowl. 

FLUX,  OR    LOOSENESS. 

Remedy. — Take  10  drops  of  laudanum  and  ^  a  pint  of  water, 
in  which  soak  oats  or  corn,  and  give  the  hen.  Or,  take  the 
yolk  of  an  egg  boiled  hard,  cut  up  fine,  and  give  with  food.  Or, 
give  a  small  quantity  of  lard  and  pulverized  charcoal. 

LICE. 

These  are  destroyed  by  placing  ashes  and  sand  for  the  hen 
to  wallow  in,  and  by  putting  a  little  sulphur  in  their  food.  Or, 
immerse  them  in  a  weak  decoction  of  tobacco-water,  or  sprin- 
kle snuff  over  their  bodies. 

GEESE. 
These  are  not  as  profitable  as  some  other  fowls,  yet  if  they 
are  permitted  to  range  on  commons  and  unoccupied  lands,  they 
will  yield  a  fair  return  for  the  capital  invested.     They  will 
S 


90  THE  farmer's  guide. 

thrive  on  most  kinds  of  grain,  potatoes,  and  turnips.  A  wartfl, 
dry,  and  secluded  place,  is  required  for  their  nests.  They  need 
much  the  same  management  as  the  hen  while  rearing  their 
young.  The  general  principles  regarding  the  symptoms  and 
cure  of  diseases  to  which  hens  are  subject  will  apply  to  geese 
and  turkeys  with  but  little  variation.  It  is  said  that  geese  will 
thrive  well  on  raw  turnips  cut  fine,  and  put  into  a  trough  with 
water.  It  can  hardly  be  necessary  to  say  that  this  is  a  ivater- 
fowl,  and  consequently  requires  pure  running  water.  If  the 
goose  is  full  size  and  well  fed,  it  will  yield  about  1^  lb.  feath- 
ers during  the  season.  It  is  not  merciful  or  profitable  to  pluck 
them  so  late  in  the  fall  that  winter  overtakes  them  without  any 
covering.  While  fattening  they  require  some  kind  of  green 
food,  such  as  clover,  cabbage-leaves,  lettuce,  &c. 

TURKEYS. 

We  have  no  account  of  the  existence  of  this  bird  previous  to 
the  discovery  of  the  western  hemisphere.  They  were  then 
found  in  immense  numbers  in  their  wild  state.  They  have, 
like  the  savage,  gradually  disappeared  as  the  white  man's  axe 
has  levelled  the  forests.  Wild  turkeys  are  not  at  present  found 
in  any  considerable  numbers  east  of  the  Allegany  ridge  ;  they 
are,  however,  domesticated  in  all  sections  of  this  continent, 
and  with  proper  attention  they  are  rendered  a  valuable  fowl 
for  market.  Turkeys  require  much  the  same  care  and  man- 
agement while  rearing  their  young  as  other  fowls,  only  the 
hen-turkey  requires  to  be  confined  for  a  few  days  after  the 
brood  is  hatched,  as  her  propensities  for  rambling  are  such 
that  her  young  will  not  have  sufficient  strength  to  follow  her. 
This  fowl  is  subject  to  but  few  diseases,  the  worst  of  which  is 
a  kind  of  dropsy  in  the  crop.  '  The  symptoms  are  loss  of  appe- 
tite, trembling,  and  swelling  of  the  crop.  Give  them  a  small 
quantity  of  pepper  and  ginger,  with  light  food,  every  morning. 
If  this  should  not  soon  produce  relief,  make  a  small  incision 
with  a  lancet,  in  the  lower  part  of  the  crop,  when  a  watery 
substance  will  be  discharged.  It  can  be  sewed  up  carefully. 
Feed  lightly  for  one  week. 

DUCKS. 

These  do  not  require  as  much  attention  as  others  of  the  fowl 
tribe.  They  are  peculiarly  fond  of  meat,  fish,  insects,  worms, 
and  young  frogs.  They  need  fresh,  pure,  running  water,  and 
are  not  particular  where  they  drop  their  eggs,  which  they  pro- 
duce in  large  quantities.  They  can  be  fattened  rapidly  on  all 
kinds  of  grain.  Ducks  are  subject  to  but  few  complaints,  and 
these  soon  yield  to  the  same  treatment  as  is  bestowed  upon 
other  fowls.     It  is  considered  the  most  profitable  to  set  the 


THE    DOG.  91 

eggs  of  ducks  under  hens,  as  they  will  faithfully  rear  a  family 
not  really  their  own. 

DOVES,  OR    PIGEONS, 

Require  a  high,  airy  situation,  on  the  south  side  of  the  barn, 
if  possible,  with  their  house  perfectly  tight  from  within,  that 
they  may  not  be  disturbed  by  rats,  &;c.  Their  presence  around 
the  farm-house  is  very  pleasing,  more  especially  to  the  young. 
It  reminds  the  older  members  of  the  family  of  their  youthful 
days  and  joj^ous  pleasures. 

The  Guinea-hen  and  the  peacock  are  so  seldom  raised  in  this 
country,  that  it  is  not  deemed  important  particularly  to  notice 
them  in  this  work. 

CANARY   AND   OTHER    BIRDS 

Require  their  cages  to  be  frequently  washed,  and  white- 
washed on  the  inside.  Their  food  cdnsists  of  different  kinds 
of  seeds,  such  as  hemp-seed,  canary-seed,  and  others.  Give 
occasionally  stale  bread  or  crackers,  with  a  small  quantity  of 
corn-meal.  Change  their  water  daily,  and  keep  a  supply  of 
charcoal,  sand,  gravel,  ashes,  or  lime,  and  cuttle-fish  bone,  al- 
ways in  their  cages. 


THE    DOG. 

A  SINGLE  dog  on  a  large  farm  may  be  of  some  service,  and  a 
few  remarks  respecting  the  two  or  three  diseases  to  which  he 
is  subject,  with  directions  for  their  proper  treatment,  may  be 
of  practical  benefit.  Among  the  various  breeds,  the  cattle  or 
shepherd's  dog  is  the  most  valuable  for  the  purposes  of  the 
farm.  He  is  easily  learned,  very  active,  and  his  sagacity  is 
truly  wonderful.  By  proper  training,  which  is  easily  accom- 
plished, he  will  go  after  the  cows  to  any  part  of  the  farm, 
and  bring  them  into  the  yard  as  well  as  a  boy.  In  brief,  he  can 
be  taught  to  do  all  that  can  be  required  of  a  dog. 

COLD. 

The  dog  is  frequently  attacked  with  a  cold,  which  shows 
itself  by  a  discharge  from  the  nose.  Give  warm  purgative 
drinks,  keeping  him  from  exposure  to  severe  weather  for  two 
days.  Should  the  cold  be  attended  with  a  cough,  give  a  small 
quantity  of  sulphur  and  Epsom  salts  followed  by  light  food  for 
two  days. 


92  THE    farmer's    guide. 

PURGATIVE    DRINK   FOR    DOGS. 

Take  1  scruple  jalap,  1  dram  aloes,  10  grains  ginger,  1  gill 
molasses ;  mix,  and  give  at  one  dose. 

DOG    DISTEMPER. 

Symptoms. — Inaction,  eyes  inflamed,  drowsiness,  and  loss 
of  appetite. 
Remedy. — Give  |  oz.  laudanum  with  5  grains  tartar  emetic. 

DOG-AIL. 

Symptoms. — Inflamed  eyes,  loss  of  appetite,  stupidity,  fever, 
running  at  the  nose,  great  thirst,  wheezing,  and  sometimes 
dizziness. 

Remedy. — Give  strong  salt  and  water,  lukewarm,  until  it 
produces  vomiting,  then  give  a  small  dose  of  sulphur  or  Epsom 
salts,  and  feed  on  dry  food  for  two  days. 

RABIES,  OR    MADNESS. 

Symptoms. — The  symptoms  manifest  themselves  so  gradu- 
ally that  the  disease  makes  considerable  progress  before  the 
alarm  is  taken.  At  first  the  animal  manifests  a  slight  uneasi- 
ness, going  from  place  to  place,  often  lying  down  and  rising 
up  again,  wildness  of  the  eyes,  often  gazing  fiercely  at  man 
and  beast.  As  the  symptoms  increase,  his  appetite  fails,  yet 
often  taking  food  into  his  mouth,  and  dropping  it  again,  with 
occasional  vomiting.  After  this  the  animal  becomes  impa- 
tient, foaming  at  the  mouth,  eyes  glaring  and  inflamed,  biting 
everything  within  his  reach,  loathing  water,  and  unnatural 
barking  or  howling.  All  these  terrible  symptoms  continue  to 
rage  until  the  animal  expires. 

Too  much  caution  can  not  be  taken  in  every  stage  of  the  dis- 
ease, that  the  dog  be  not  permitted  to  lick  the  hand,  for  should 
there  be  a  crack  or  injury,  and  the  saliva  from  his  mouth  come 
in  contact  with  the  broken  skin,  the  poison  will  surely  be  com- 
municated. When  a  dog  is  bitten  it  is  not  safe  to  let  him 
remain  at  large,  as  no  calculation  can  be  made  how  soon  the 
poison  Avill  develop  itself. 

Treatment. — When  an  individual  is  bitten  by  a  dog,  a  phy- 
sician or  surgeon  should  immediately  be  called,  yet  not  a  mo- 
ment should  be  lost  in  cutting  away  every  part  of  the  flesh  that 
has  been  touched  by  the  teeth.  Should  the  knife  enter  the 
wound  while  cutting,  it  must  be  thoroughly  cleaned  before 
continuing  the  operation,  as  there  is  great  danger  of  extend- 
ing the  poison.  After  the  operation  of  cutting  is  completed, 
wash  the  wound  with  chloride  of  lime,  mixed  with  water, 
every  2  hours,  for  30  hours,  keeping  on  bandages  for  several 
days. 


THE    BEE. 


93 


Another:  The  first  step  should  be  the  application  of  a  tight  lig- 
ature above  the  Avound  ;  2dly,  the  speedy  and  complete  excision 
of  the  wounded  part ;  and  3dly,  the  long-continued  affusion  of  an 
alkaline  solution,  as  pearlasli  in  water,  over  the  excised  parts. 
The  wound  .should  afterward  be  dressed  with  Spanish  flies,  in 
order  tJiat  a  discharge  may  be  kept  up  for  a  considerable  length 
of  time.  Where  it  is  impossible  to  cut  out  the  flesh  around  the 
wound,  make  a  solution  of  pure  potash,  or  apply,  with  a  pencil, 
lunar  caustic  (nitrate  of  silver).  Nitric  acid  is  applied,  by  sorne, 
as  the  safest  means  of  preventing  the  evil  consequences  arising 
from  the  bite  of  rabid  animals,  but  it  is  not  always  attended 
with  success,  even  when  taken  in  its  earliest  stages. 


APPENDIX. 


THE    BEE. 

Peovidence,  who  delights  in  exhibiting  beneficence  as  well 
as  beauty  all  over  creation,  has  wisely  formed  the  bee  as  an 
humble,  but  active  and  untiring,  agent  in  gathering  up  for  the 
most  important  purposes,  and  converting  to  the  most  valuable 
uses,  the  scrtips  and  fragments  of  nature  which  would  other- 
wise be  scattered  by  the  "  viewless  winds,"  and  spread  through 
the  "ambient  air."  He  has  adorned  the  song  of  the  poet, 
pointed  the  tale  of  the  moralist,  and  furnished  food  to  the  hun- 
gry in  the  desert.  Virgil  calls  the  bee  a  ray  of  divinity  ;  Plu- 
tarch pronounces  her  a  magazine  of  virtues  ;  Quintian  asserts 
that  she  is  the  greatest  of  geometricians ;  and  Watts  has  pointed 
to  her  industry  as  an  example  to  interest,  improve,  and  delight 
the.  youthful  mind.  Philosophy  has  stooped  to  examine  her 
habits,  and  to  watch  over  her  haunts  ;  she  has  presented  the 
models  of  science,  and  called  forth  the  attention  of  scientific 
men  ;  b)'-  her  the  husbandman,  when  sitting  in  his  cottage  gar- 
den, is  soothed  in  his  evening  reflections  on  his  day  of  toil; 
and  in  whatever  light  she  may  be  viewed,  there  is  none  who 
can  declare  that  he  has  no  interest  in  her  ways. 

CONSXRUCTION    OF  A    BEE-HIVE. 

It  is  important  that  a  bee-hive  should  be  made  of  well-sea- 
soned boards,  free  from  shakes  and  cracks  ;  it  should  be  planed 
very  smooth,  both  inside  and  out ;  joined  as  near  as  possible,  to 
make  it  air-tight ;  and  painted  white  on  the  outside.  Glass 
hives  are  being  introduced  into  various  parts  of  the  country, 
and  it  is  probable  that  they  will  soon  come  into  very  general 


94  THE  farmer's  guide. 

use.     Hives  of  the  medium  size  have  been  found  best  adapted 
to  the  purpose  for  which  they  are  desired. 

IMPROVED    MACHINE    FOR    FEEDING 
BEES. 

Prepare  a  board,  a  little  larger  than  the  bottom  of  the  hive, 
in  the  centre  of  which  make  an  opening  about  10  inches  in  di- 
ameter; then  form  a  frame  of  half-inch  board,  to  consist  of 
four  sides,  each  about  3  by  12  inches  ;  make  the  angles  firm 
with  small  wooden  blocks,  to  which  affix  the  before-mentioned 
board.  A  door  should  then  be  made  in  a  side  of  the  frame,  suf- 
ficiently large  to  admit  a  deep  plate,  or  small  dish,  to  contain 
the  food.  By  the  use  of  this  machine,  the  bees  are  fed  quietly, 
and  protected  from  the  cold  weather,  and  the  intrusion  of  other 
bees.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  observe  further,  that  the  door 
of  the  machine  should  face  such  part  of  the  bee-house  as  best 
suits  convenience.  The  dish  of  food  to  be  placed  under  should 
be  covered  with  a  piece  of  thick  paper  the  size  of  the  plate  or 
dish,  pierced  with  holes,  through  which  the  bees  will  feed  ; 
and  a  quantity  of  short  pieces  of  straw  also  put  into  the  dish, 
will  prevent  the  bees  from  daubing  themselves.  They  should 
be  fed  at  night,  and  the  dish  only  taken  away  early  on  the 
following  morning ;  to  do  this,  the  face  and  hands  should  be 
covered.  The  autumn  and  early  part  of  the  spring  are  times 
proper  to  examine  if  any  hives  require  feeding;  but  always 
commence  before  the  stock  is  in  absolute  want  of  food,  or  the 
bees  will  be  so  poor  and  weak  as  to  be  unable  to  come  down. 

XO    HIVE    BEES. 

Bee-keepers  should  have  spare  hives  by  them,  prepared  to 
hive  the  bees  as  soon  as  they  are  settled  ;  for  should  the  sun 
shine  hot  on  the  swarm,  it  may  take  another  and  be  lost.  The 
manner  of  hiving  them  must  be  regulated  by  the  nature  of  the 
place  on  which  they  settle.  Have  ready  a  cloth  whereon  to 
place  the  hive,  and  a  wedge  to  raise  it ;  if  the  swarm  should 
settle  on  a  limb  of  a  tree,  shake  the  best  part  of  it  into  the  hive, 
place  it  on  the  cloth  on  the  ground,  and  continue  to  disturb 
where  it  settled,  and  the  hive  being  left  underneath,  they  will 
all  go  in  :  or  cut  off'  the  branch,  and  gently  place  it  in  the  hive, 
should  the  bees  settle  on  the  ground,  place  the  hive  over  them  ; 
and  though  bees  are  not  apt  to  sting  at  this  time,  the  hiving 
should  be  performed  quietly.  Avoid  taking  and  breathing  on 
them.  If  any  of  them  are  crushed  they  will  resent  it ;  there- 
fore, to  prevent  accident,  use  a  bee-dress,  or  a  veil  and  gloves. 
All  swarms  are  to  be  sheltered,  and  left  near  to  where  they 
settle  till  the  evening  ;  thence  to  be  removed  very  gently  to  the 
appointed  place. 


THE    BEE.  95 

TO    TAKE    THE     HONEY    N/VITHOUT 
DESTROYING  THE   BEES. 

In  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  when  the  bees  are  quietly  lodged, 
silently  approach  the  hive  and  turn  it  gently  over.  Having 
steadily  placed  it  on  the  ground,  with  its  bottom  upward, 
cover  it  with  a  clean  new  hive  which  has  been  properly  pre- 
pared with  a  few  sticks  across  the  inside  of  it,  and  rubbed 
with  aromatic  herbs.  Having  carefully  adjusted  the  mouths  of 
the  hives  to  each  other,  so  that  no  aperture  remains  between 
them,  take  a  small  stick  and  beat  gently  round  the  sides  of 
the  lower  hive  for  about  fifteen  minutes,  in  which  time  the 
bees  will  leave  their  cells  in  the  lower  hive,  and  ascend  and 
adhere  to  the  upper  one.  Then  gently  lift  the  new  hive,  and 
place  it  on  the  stand  from  which  the  other  hive  was  taken. 
This  should  be  done  by  the  loth  of  July,  that  the  bees  may  have 
time,  before  the  summer-flowers  are  faded,  to  lay  in  a  new 
stock  of  honey,  which  they  will  not  fail  to  do  for  their  suste- 
nance through  the  winter. 

TO    DESTROY  THE    B  EE- M  I  LLER. 

To  a  pint  of  water  sweetened  with  honey  or  sugar,  add  ^  a 
gill  of  vinegar,  and  set  it  in  an  open  white  vessel  (as  anything 
white  attracts  their  attention),  on  the  top  or  by  the  side  of  the 
hive.  When  the  miller  comes  in  the  night,  he  will  fly  into 
the  mixture  and  be  drowned. 

PRESERVING   OLD    HIVES. 

When  bees  die,  the  hive  should  be  thoroughly  cleared  of  its 
contents,  the  sides  well  scraped  out  and  rubbed  with  a  cloth 
wet  in  cold  water,  and  be  kept  in  a  dry  place  until  wanted  for 
use.  Old  hives  thus  prepared,  are  far  better  than  new  ones, 
from  the  fact  that  the  arduous  and  difficult  task  of  attaching 
the  comb  to  the  walls  of  the  hive  has  been  accomplished  by  the 
previous  swarm. 

NA^INTER    MANAGEMENT. 

When  autumn  approaches,  it  is  highly  important  to  know 
the  exact  condition  of  the  bees,  in  regard  to  their  supply  of 
food  for  the  winter,  and  if  all  the  hives  be  made  of  the  same 
size  and  weight,  after  a  little  practice  the  quantity  of  honey 
contained  in  each  can  be  readily  ascertained  by  gently  weigh- 
ing It.  There  should  be  found  15  or  20  pounds  of  honey  in 
every  hive,  of  the  usual  quantity  of  bees,  to  carry  them  safely 
through  the  winter.  When  the  quantity  of  honey  is  insuffi 
cient,  the  bees  can  be  fed  as  before  described.  Southern  honey 
that  costs  from  4  to  6  cents  per  pound,  will  answer  the  pur- 
pose. Where  honey  can  not  be  obtained,  brown  sugar  can  be 
used.     Dissolve  the  sugar  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  water 


96  THE  farmer's  guide. 

to  make  it  of  the  consistence  of  honey.  This  must  be  done 
over  a  fire,  and  taken  off  as  soon  as  it  commences  boiling,  and 
the  scum  taken  off.  It  is  of  great  importance  so  to  place  bees 
that  they  will  have  the  least  possible  desire  to  leave  their  hives 
during  the  winter.  If  tAvo  stocks  should  be  placed  side  by  side, 
and  the  one  so  managed  that  the  bees  should  remain  wiihin 
constantly,  without  being  confined,  while  those  of  the  other 
should  be  on  the  wing  during  every  tolerably  warm  day,  the 
mortality  of  the  bees  remaining  within  would  not  be  half  so 
great  as  that  of  the  others  ;  for  the  reason,  that  many  bees  come 
to  an  untimely  death  in  the  winter  season,  by  being  suddenly 
chilled  while  abroad,  and  never  regain  the  hive.  Hives  thus 
depopulated  can  not  possibly  thrive  so  well  in  the  following 
spring,  a  those  which  are  kept  from  going  abroad;  hence  it 
follows,  that  to  be  successful  we  must  ascertain  in  season 
whether  a  sufficient  amount  of  food  is  furnished  them  to  carry 
them  through  the  winter  season. 

SPRING    MANAGEMENT. 

The  queen  commences  her  spring  laying  on  the  approach  of 
mild  weather,  in  March  or  April.  Even  in  February,  should 
there  be  two  or  three  weeks  of  warm  weather,  she  may  com- 
mence her  spring-laying.  The  indications  of  this  are,  the  ac- 
tivity of  the  bees  in  going  abroad,  and  their  return  loaded  with 
pellets  of  pollen  upon  their  thighs.  The  latter  is  a  sure  indi- 
cation. Should  this  be  the  case  as  early  as  the  month  of  Feb- 
ruary, in  the  latitude  of  New  York,  the  bees  will  be  placed  in 
a  very  critical  situation  ;  for  cold  weather  must,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  injervene  before  the  approach  of  mild  settled  weather. 
Under  such  circumstances,  should  the  weather  continue  mild, 
the  bees  will  consume  more  honey  in  a  week  than  during  a 
month  of  steady  cold  weather  ;  and  if  their  supply  be  not  abun- 
dant, feeding  in  the  general  way  as  before  described,  should  be 
resorted  to.  In  any  case  when  the  spring  opens  prematurely, 
the  greatest  care  is  necessary,  for  the  reason  that  if  the 
bees  are  on  short  allowance,  their  destruction  is  inevitable,  un- 
less they  are  fed.  Should  the  bees  be  placed  in  any  situation 
cooler  than  that  which  is  intended  for  them  in  the  summer, 
such  as  on  the  north  side  of  some  building  (which  is  a  good 
plan  in  a  mild  winter),  they  should  be  kept  in  that  position  till 
permanent  mild  Aveather ;  but  care  should  be  taken  not  to 
leave  them  too  long,  as  their  spring  increase  might  be  greatly 
retarded  thereby.  The  great  object  of  every  one  should,  at 
this  season,  be  "to  get  early  swarms.  One  swarm  in  May  is 
worth  two  in  June.  Bees  usually  swarm  from  the  lOlh  of 
May  to  the  10th  of  June. 


THE    BEE.  97 

TO   CULTIVATE    BEE-FLOWERS. 

Bees  are  most  fond  of  those  places  where  their  favorite  flow- 
ers are  found  ;  therefore  bee-keepers  should  encourage  the 
growth  of  such  shrubs  and  flowers  as  are  known  to  supply 
honey  and  wax  in  the  greatest  abundance.  In  most  situations 
bees  do  not  fly  far  for  food— generally  not  more  than  half  a 
mile  ;  they  may  be  observed  to  return  with  great  precipitation 
to  the  hive,  as  the  storm  approaches.  The  following  are  the 
most  favorable  for  pasturage,  and  those  which  blossom  early 
are  the  most  desirable: — 

Shrubs.  Flowers. 

Sallow,  or  the  gray  willow,  Lemon-thyme, 

Rosemary,  White  clover. 

Barberry-tree,  Garden  and  wild  thyme, 

Goose  berry- tree,  Barage, 

Raspberry-tree,  Winter-savoy, 

Apricot,  and  other  fruit-trees.       Hyssop, 
Lime-trees,  Mustard, 

Furze,  Turnip, 

Broom,  Cabbage, 

Heath.  Scarlet  and  other  beans  when 

in  bloom, 

TO   MANAGE    BEES   GENERALLY. 

The  best  situation  for  bees  is  to  the  north.  The  stations  for 
the  hives  must  be  six  yards  asmider,  and  never  nearer  than, 
three  yards.  The  board  on  which  they  are  placed  ought  to  be 
of  one  piece  ;  or  if  joined,  the  under  side  of  the  joining  should 
be  lined  with  a  thinner  board,  fixed  closely  wiih  wooden  pins. 
The  edges  of  this  rounded  standard  should  project  four  inches 
all  round  the  hive.  Place  it  on  three  wooden  pillars  sixteen 
inches  above  the  ground,  but  six  inches  should  be  firmly  thrust 
into  the  earth.  The  pillar  in  front  should  be  an  inch  shorter 
than  the  others,  and  three  pillars  should  be  within  tAvelve  or 
fourteen  inches  of  the  outer  edge  of  the  board,  to  exclude  rats 
and  mice.  For  .the  same  reason,  no  tall-growing  plant,  no  wall, 
nor  any  means  of  ascent,  should  be  within  three  or  four  feet  of 
the  hive.  In  fine  weather,  the  entrance  to  the  hive  must  be  five 
inches  long  and  an  inch  and  a  half  in  depth.  In  the  begin- 
ning of  the  fine  season,  when  the  bees  can  get  food,  or  have 
stores  remaining,  the  bee-master  has  nothing  to  do  but  to  keep 
the  ground  about  the  hives  clear  from  weeds,  and  from  what- 
ever might  enable  vermin  to  climb  there.  Yet,  as  a  thriving 
stock  inclines  very  soon  to  swarm,  the  hives  must  be  frequently 
looked  after,  from  eight  in  the  morning  till  three  in  the  after- 
noon. The  symptoms  are  generally  these :  the  little  city 
seems  crowded  with  inhabitants  ;  they  are  in  continual  motion 


98  THE  farmer's  guide. 

during  the  day ;  and  after  working-time  they  make  loud  noises. 
The  drones  may  be  seen  flying  about  in  the  heat  of  the  day, 
and  tlie  working  bees  go  with  a  reeling  motion  and  busy  hum. 
When  the  bees  come  regularly  out  of  the  hives,  let  no  noise, 
no  interruption,  incommode  them  ;  but  if  they  fly  long,  as  if 
they  were  unsettled,  some. tinkling  noise,  or  the  loud  report  of 
a  gun,  will  make  the  fugitives  repair  to  the  nearest  lodging. 
If  there  is  an  empty  hive  with  combs  and  some  honey  in  it, 
they  will  readily  go  there.  If  a  new  hive  is  used,  remember 
to  smooth  it  well  within.  Perpendicular  sticks  should  never 
be  employed.  Four  cross-sticks,  at  equal  distances,  will  sup- 
port the  combs.  It  is  to  be  observed,  that  great  haste  in  for- 
cing a  swarm  into  the  hive,  may  disperse  them.  Give  them 
time  to  settle  undisturbed,  though  keep  a  steady  eye  on  their 
motions ;  but  when  they  gather  into  a  cluster,  lose  no  time  in 
placing  the  hive  over  them.  If  the  hive  rests  on  anything  that 
can  be  brought  to  the  ground,  sptead  a  clean  linen  cloth  ;  lay 
two  sticks  on  it,  two  feetasunder ;  lay  the  body  on  which  the 
swarm  have  fixed,  gently  on  the  sticks,  covering  it  with  the 
hive  by  a  motion  the  least  perceptible,  and  taking  care  that 
the  edges  of  the  hive  rest  upon  the  sticks.  Cover  hive  and 
all  with  a  cloth,  for  the  heat  of  the  sun  may  cause  them  to 
rise  again.  When  they  have  gone  into  the  hive,  cover 
it  with  its  own  board,  and  carry  it  cautiously  to  its  station. 
Great  care  should  be  taken  that  the  ground  around  and  under 
the  hives  should  be  kept  free  from  weeds  and  grass.  A  hard, 
smooth  surface  is  best,  as  many  a  weary  bee,  on  returning  home, 
fails  in  reaching  the  alighdng  board,  and  falls  to  the  ground,  in 
which  case,  should  the  ground  be  encumbered  with  long  grass, 
and  weeds,  she  might  become  entangled,  and  thus  fall  a  prey 
to  spiders  that  infest  such  places.  The  best  way  to  kill  the 
grass  and  weeds,  is  to  saturate  them  in  the  spring  with  boiling- 
hot  brine,  which  will  effectually  put  a  stop  to  vegetation.  This 
being  done,  lay  a  strip  of  board  along  in  front  of  the  hives, 
with  a  rising  point  for  the  bees  that  return  home  heavily  laden, 
and  fall  around  the  hives,  which  often  does  occur,  and  they 
fail  to  get  upon  the  wing  until  they  ascend  some  eminence 
from  which  they  take  a  start  and  regain  the  hive. 

TO   PURIFY    HONEY. 

Expose  the  honey  to  frost  for  three  weeks,  in  a  place  where 
neither  sun  nor  snow  can  reach  it,  and  in  a  vessel  of  wood,  or 
other  substance  which  is  not  a  good  conductor  of  heat.  The 
honey  is  not  congealed,  but  becomes  clear. 


CHOICE    FRUITS.  99 

CHOICE    FRUITS. 

A  FARMER  finds  no  little  difficulty,  and  perplexity  in  making 
his  selection  of  fruit-trees  from  a  nursery  of  many  hundred 
kinds.  To  avoid  this  difficulty,  the  writer  proposes  to  give  a 
short  description  of  a  few  varieties  that  will  give  general  satis- 
faction, but  our  limited  room  will  not  permit  us  to  mention  a 
large  number. 

APPLES. 

Early  Harvest. — Frtiit  medium  size,  bright  straw-color,  flavor  fine — ripe 
in  August. 

Summer  Qrieen. — Fruit  large  and  oblong,  striped  v/ith  red  and  yellow  ; 
high  flavbr,  and  verj'  Ime — ripe  iii  August. 

Rhode  Island  Gr'eeiiing. — Fnait  large,  skin  greenish,  flesh  slightly  acid, 
and  of  fine  flavor — keepstill  May. 

Swaar  Apple. — A  celebrated  w^inter  fruit,  in  some  parts  of  New  England 
and  New  York ;  of  fine  flavor,  skin  greenish  yellow,  with  red  tinge — keeps 
till  March. 

Newtoivn  Pippin. — A  valuable  apple  of  two  kinds,  the  yellow  and  the 
green;  no  difference  in  quality;  keeps  tiU  June  and  retains  its  flavor;  the 
best  fruit  for  pies  and  general  family  use. 

Fall  Pippin. — This  is  the  most  valuable  of  all  fall  apples.  Fniit  large 
and  oblong ;  skin  smooth  and  greenish,  slightly  tinged  with  orange ;  flesft 
tender  and  mild — ripe  in  October,  and  keeps  till  February. 

Baldrvin  Apples. — In  many  markets  in  die  United  States,  this  kind  o*  fruit 
commands  the  highest  price :  color  bright  red,  tinged  with  yellow ;  flesh 
sweet,  rich,  and  juicy — ripe  in  November,  and  keeps  till  spring. 

Lady  Apple. — Fruit  small,  color  bright,  deeply  tinged  with  red  on  one 
side  ;  flesh  brittle  and  pleasant — ripe  in  November,  and  keeps  till  May. 

PEACHES. 

Yellow  Rareripe. — Sldn  red  and  yellow,  fle.sh  rich  and  delicious — ripe  la 
September. 

Morris  Red. — Fruit  large,  skin  greenish  yellow— ripe  in  September. 

Columbia. — Fruit  medium  size,  skin  rougher,  color  a  dai-k  reddish,  flesih 
yellow — ripe  in  September. 

Morris  White. — F rait  large,  skin  yellowish, flesh  white ;  flavor  rich;  yaJ* 
uable  for  preserves ;  ripe  in  September. 

PEARS. 

Dearhon's  Seedlinsr. — Medium  size — ripe  in  August. 

Bloodprood. — A  large  fruit,  with  russet  spots — ripe  in  August. 

Steven's  Genesee  Pear. — Of  large  size,  color  light  gi-een — ripe  in  AugaaL 

Pound  Pear. — Fruit  large  ;  excellent  for  wanter. 

Seekle. — This  is  considered  by  many  one  of  the  best  pears  in  the  country , 
color  brownish,  slightly  rasset-tingod,  with  red  next  the  sun ;  flavor  very  rich 
— ripe  in  September. 

Marie  Louisa. — A  fine  pear,  skin  yellowish  green,  dai-kish  russet,  flesh  T\(h 
and  mellow — ripe  in  October. 

CHERRIES. 

^  May-DnTce. — Fine  and  round  ;  grows  in  clusters  ;  skin  dark  red  ;  flesh 
rich  and  juicy — ripe  in  June. 

Ox-Heart. — Fruit  large,  and  heart-shaped ;  color  pale  yeUow  ;  an  excel- 
lent quality — ripe  in  June. 
Black  Oz-Heart.— Fruit  large,  fine,  and  delicious— ripe  in  July 


100  THE    farmer's    guide 

PLUMS. 

Orange  Egg. — A  large,  beautiful  fitiit — ripe  in  August. 

Americnn  Yellow. — Beautiful  shape,  color  blight  yellow — ripe  in  August. 

Green  Gage. — So  well  known  that  a  description  is  unnecessary,  it  is  the 
most  desirable  plum  known — ripe  in  August. 

Blue  Magnum  Bonum. — Size  large,  color  blue  ;  excellent  cooking — ^ripe 
in  September. 

Fall  Gage. — A  valuable  fruit,  good  when  tlie  season  is  past  for  other 
plmns — ripe  in  October. 


AGRICULTURAL   SOCIETIES    AND    FAIRS. 

The  great  benefits  arising  from  agricultural  societies  are  not 
yet  duly  appreciated  by  the  large  portion  of  American  farmers, 
but  every  succeeding  year  produces  a  change  in  the  agricultural 
public.  Through  the  benefits  of  associations,  stock  has  been 
improved  and  their  diseases  guarded  against ;  the  quality  of 
nearly  all  sorts  of  grain  has  become  superior,  and  the  quantity 
increased ;  barren  and  sterile  lands  have  become  fertile,  and 
swamps  that  were  once  valueless  have  been  drained  and  changed 
to  luxuriant  gardens;  in  short,  mankind  have  been  benefited  by 
their  effects.  The  great  improvement  that  has  taken  place  in 
agriculture  and  the  breeding  of  stock  throughout  England  and 
America  within  the  last  fifty  years,  is  owing  mainly  to  an  inter- 
change of  knowledge  and  ex})erimeniing  thereon.  State  agri- 
cultural societies  have  been  formed  in  nearly  every  portion  of 
the  Union,  and  county  societies,  already  numerous,  are  on  the 
increase.  Many  agricultural  papers  are  now  published  in  our 
country,  diffusing  a  vast  amount  of  knowledge  which  is  ob- 
tained at  a  comparatively  low  price.  Individuals  who  feel  the 
importance  of  becoming  members  of  agricultural  societies  and 
patronizing  the  press,  by  subscribing  to  and  reading  some  one  of 
the  many  papers  that  are  now  published  on  the  subject,  will  soon 
feel  and  appreciate  the  benefits  of  being  in  possession  of  the  ex- 
perience of  others.  The  premiums  offered  to  those  who  excel 
in  productions  from  their  farms  and  work-shops,  are  not  the 
only  incentives  to  improvement;  the  meeting  together  once  a 
year,  at  the  annual  fair  of  the  state  and  county  societies,  of  so 
large  a  number  of  farmers,  mechanics,  and  artisans,  anU  there 
beholding  their  products,  incites  in  them  a  spirit  of  emulation  and 
rivalry  which  nothing  else  would  produce,  the  result  of  which 
is  apparent  in  communities  where  the  most  attention  has  been 
paid  to  the  subject.  The  above  are  only  a  faw  suggestions  in 
relation  to  a  subject  which  will  more  or  less  interest  every 
reader  of  this  little  book  and  should  the  hints  herein  expressed 
meet  the  approbation  of  the  class  for  which  it  is  designed  it 
will  be  no  little  satisfaction  to  the  writer. 

THE   END. 


Webster  Family  Library  of  Veterinary  Medicine 
Cummings  Scfiool  of  Veterinary  Medicine  at 
Tufts  University 


